Wi-Fi

Very few homes with internet connections don’t have Wi-Fi running throughout the home. Yet much about Wi-Fi is misunderstood. It is not necessarily a means of connecting to the internet, though that is one of its functions. It is a way for multiple devices to communicate with one another. When you connect your laptop to a Wi-Fi network, you’re actually communicating with a router or modem. That router or modem carries an internet signal, which it shares, via the Wi-Fi network, with your laptop.

Wi-Fi internet networks are popping up at all sorts of places. Here we’ll track the latest hotspot initiatives and other developments in the realm of Wi-Fi.

5 Cities in the U.S. with Excellent Public WiFi

May 17, 2011

If you travel with a laptop or are looking for a city with great public WiFi access, where should you go? Many municipalities now have free public WiFi for residents and travelers alike. It’s getting easier to find just about anywhere you go, but here are five cities with great wireless internet access that’s also [...]

Read the full article →

AT&T uses Wi-Fi to ease pressure on mobile network

May 26, 2010

Can mobile networks handle the increasing mobile broadband traffic? In many, and perhaps most, markets the answer is yes. Some have seen problems in this regard, and AT&T’s network in New York City might be the preeminent case. Many of the island’s 8 million inhabitants, plus more than a handful of business commuters, use the [...]

Read the full article →

Amtrak to implement Wi-Fi on some trains

March 1, 2010

Mass transit has never experienced mass appeal in the U.S., but with Wi-Fi networks gaining traction that might change. If people can get work done while commuting or traveling, perhaps they’ll choose to take the train instead of driving. We’ve seen services like this, most notably on the Bolt Bus. The latest on the bandwagon [...]

Read the full article →

Wi-Fi heading to New York commuter trains

September 21, 2009

Cablevision has already done a good job of putting Wi-Fi hotpot at nearly all station stops on the Long Island Railroad, Metro North, and NJ Transit lines. Customers waiting for trains can log into their Optimum Online accounts and access the Internet for free while they wait. While this is good for those who arrive [...]

Read the full article →

Barnes & Noble adds free Wi-Fi in all US stores

August 4, 2009

When I have a few free hours, there’s nothing I like more than heading to a local book store, plopping in one of their comfy chairs, grabbing a coffee, and reading a book or magazine. Some might call this freeloading, but I make a purchase more often than not, whereas I might not have even [...]

Read the full article →

Wi-Fi coming to NYC trains soon?

July 10, 2009

When we heard in June that New York’s MTA was considering wireless Internet access on various trains, we kind of scoffed. The Authority, after all, has an enormous budget deficit which was somewhat offset by a recent fare hike. How could they raise the funds to add wireless Internet. Of course, it’s an investment, with [...]

Read the full article →

Surfing the Web at the beach?

June 29, 2009

When one thinks of the beach, a laptop computer isn’t usually atop the list. Sure, a writer here or there might want to accomplish something in the serene environment, but for the most part beaches are not normally associated with computers. That might change, at least in Long Island, as a number of municipalities have [...]

Read the full article →

Southwest Airlines enters second phase of on-board Wi-Fi

June 25, 2009

On-board Wi-Fi has been a big thing for airlines, and Southwest Airlines is no exception. They recently rolled out Wi-Fi on four aircraft as a test. This was apparently for free, but no longer. The second phase of their rollout, which they announced on their website earlier this week. The charge will be between $2 [...]

Read the full article →

Wi-Fi ATMs to service UK

June 22, 2009

When you think of Wi-Fi hotspots, what comes to mind? Coffee shop surely has to be atop that list. Laundromats, shopping centers, and others may pop up as well. One that probably doesn’t is an ATM. Why would you need Wi-Fi at an ATM? I’m not sure of the answer, but the folks at Cashbox [...]

Read the full article →

New York's MTA slow to adopt wireless Internet

June 16, 2009

Many mass transit units across the country have adopted wireless Internet technology to improve their ridership numbers. After all, people are more apt to take public transportation if they benefit directly. Yes, public transit is a more economical means of transportation on the whole, but many people think the convenience of a car trumps it. [...]

Read the full article →

Cablevision's Wi-Fi service a huge hit

June 12, 2009

We heard when Cablevision picked up subscribers on the strength of Wi-Fi, it became pretty obvious that they were onto something. They rolled out the service on Long Island last September, and expanded it to Connecticut, Westchester/Dutchess county, and along New Jersey Transit train stations. The latest on that front is that users have accessed [...]

Read the full article →

Landlords using Wi-Fi to attract renters

June 4, 2009

File this under: great ideas that everyone should adopt. Apparently landlords in San Francisco, responding to a weak rental market, are offering all sorts of perks to potential tenants. Among them: free Wi-Fi. According to the San Francisco Chronicle report, craigslist is filled to the brim with ads for apartment that come with Wi-Fi as [...]

Read the full article →

Using unused Wi-Fi networks to create a cloud

June 2, 2009

The Cloud. It’s a term which saw considerable attention last year. While the hype has died down a bit, the concept is still one many in the industry continue to explore. This is mostly in terms of computing power. When there is someone not using their computing power, others can draw from it. This creates [...]

Read the full article →

Wi-Fi hotspots face interference from household gadgets

May 12, 2009

Over the past few weeks and months we’ve seen a slew of companies adopt Wi-Fi in some form or another. Whether it’s an airline, a bus company, or a broadband provider, everyone seems to be hopping on the bandwagon. We’re becoming an increasingly mobile nation, and Wi-Fi seems like the easiest way to gain Internet [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries