Mobile Computing: Guide to Wi-Fi Hot Spots

Feature: Warm Weather, Hot Spots

As I wrote this, it was a gorgeous spring day. Birds were tweeting; flowers were blooming; the sun was shining; Daylight Savings Time had kicked in--and I was on deadline. So I did what any self-respecting person would do: I got the heck out of my office.

But before you gasp at my flagrant irresponsibility, I'll hasten to add that I took my office with me. I packed up my notebook, strolled leisurely down the street amidst all those chirping birds, and returned to work at the neighborhood Starbucks.

Wireless access points, or hot spots, at places like Starbucks give you access to high-speed networks, which in turn allow you to get onto the Internet. Most hot spots are based on the 802.11b, or Wi-Fi, wireless network standard, though newer Wi-Fi standards such as 802.11a (which promises faster access) are beginning to appear.

Hot spots are popping up practically everywhere. Gartner estimates there will be more than 24,000 hot spots worldwide by year end, compared to only 6000 last year. A new generation of wireless-enabled notebooks has sprung forth, too, thanks to Intel's Centrino mobile PC architecture.

As I said, it's spring, so grab your notebook and get out of the office. Here's a guide to hot spots: how to find one near you, and what you can expect to pay for wireless Internet access.

Finding a Hot Spot

The following Web sites offer interactive directories, sometimes with maps, that help you pinpoint the nearest hot spot. Think of these as a kind of Yellow Pages for hot spots. If you can't find an access point near you, check out the section below, "Other Ways to Go Wireless."

802.11Hotspots.com provides a searchable database of public hot spots offered by service providers (such as T-Mobile) in the United States and many international locations. Search by city, state, or country for a list of alphabetized hot spots that includes the business name, address, and Internet access provider. Clicking the business name gives you more information, including the type of establishment (such as caf?? or hotel); where wireless access is located (only in the hotel lobby, for instance); and wireless protocol (802.11b, 802.11a, or 802.11g). The service is quick, easy to use, and frequently updated. I wish you could search by Zip code, however.

The Community Wireless Node Database Project is a guide to, as the name implies, community hot spots. These wireless access points are usually set up by individuals or groups, and Internet access tends to be offered without charge.

WiFiMaps.com provides an interactive guide to hot spots for "wardriving" fans. Wardriving is the practice of snooping around with your wireless-enabled notebook or PDA and a Global Positioning System device. When you find a hot spot (which requires special software to do), you can add it to the WiFiMaps.com database of known access points. The problem is, the hot spot may be located within a private home or business. As a result, some consider wardriving equivalent to trespassing. According the site, however, it's not illegal.

Wireless Service Rates

How much are you likely to pay for wireless access? Here are the current rates from three national wireless networking service providers.

T-Mobile supplies the hot spots at Starbucks, Borders book stores, and some airports, hotels, and other locations. Service plans begin at 10 cents per minute for a pay-as-you-go plan. A minimum session is 60 minutes, but there's no commitment. For $30 a month, you get unlimited national access but must agree to a one-year contract. Don't like that idea? Pay $40 a month for unlimited national access on a month-by-month basis or $50 for a block of 300 minutes.

Boingo offers hot spots in coffee shops, hotels, and other locations. Service plans begin at $8 for two "connect days" (a connect day means you get unlimited access at a Boingo location for up to 24 hours). Additional usage is $8 per connect day. For $25 per month, you get up to 10 connect days within a 30-day period; additional days are $5. Unlimited access is $50 per month.

Surf and Sip is often found in independent coffee shops, pubs, bakeries, and hotels. Service plans without membership begin at $5 for 24 hours and go to $20 for a week and $40 for 30 days. The annual membership fee is $20 per month with a one-year contract, or skip the contract and pay $30 a month.

Other Ways to Go Wireless

Some mobile-phone providers such as AT&T, Nextel, and Verizon are beginning to offer Wi-Fi access, with Sprint rumored to be close behind. For instance, AT&T has an agreement with Wayport, a Texas company that offers wired and wireless Internet access in hotels and airports. In those deals, Wayport provides the wireless infrastructure that AT&T offers to its subscribers.

Rates for AT&T's Wi-Fi service start at $10 for a 24-hour period. For more information, see "AT&T Boosts Wi-Fi Hot Spots."

Meanwhile, there is an alternative to wireless hot spots: 3G wireless networks. Short-hand for third-generation, 3G refers to a cell phone network capable of handling data at high speeds, as well as voice traffic. Sprint PCS Vision is said to be the largest such network available. With 3G service, you don't have to be physically near an access point, as you do with 802.11-based wireless hot spots. But 3G service can be expensive, and it often delivers slower speeds than what you'd get at a hot spot.

For my review of Sprint PCS Vision, see "Mobile Computing: Sprint's New High-Speed Wireless."