Top 7 Uses for Having a Smartphone as a Mobile Broadband Modem

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 06:39 AM PDT

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Sometimes, the need for internet access comes up at the worst possible moment. Maybe you are miles away from the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot, and you need to send an urgent email. Perhaps your modem dies just when you need to do some web research for a huge paper. No matter what kind of predicament you find yourself in, relax – you will be able to access the internet if you own a mobile device with mobile broadband capability. Using a mobile phone as a modem for another device is called "tethering", and it's more useful than you might think. Here are seven major ways in which tethering comes in handy.

Increase Security

Unencrypted public WiFi hotspots are wide open as far as security is concerned. Public WiFi traffic can in fact be captured and analyzed by the average use with relative ease. Tethering via Bluetooth or USB cable is much safer since your information goes directly through your mobile device, as opposed to going through the open unsecured public hotspot.

Blog on the Go

Tethering opens a whole lot of doors with respect to on-the-go blogging. Public WiFi is not available everywhere and in places where it is available it is oftentimes quite a hassle. If you do not have to jump through about twenty different hoops to get access, then there is a pretty good chance that the speed is quite lacking as dozens of people in the area are connected to the network. But with tethering, you do not have to worry about any of that. You can quickly and easily access the internet no matter where you are, as long as you get cellular data coverage. And since you are the only one who is connecting to the Internet through your phone, the only thing that may compromise your speed is the strength of your signal.

Pay Fewer Bills

Another nice thing about tethering is that you may even be able to save money by eliminating your home Internet service bill. This may not be practical if you do not live in an area with a strong cell signal or if you share home internet service with more than one person, but if you get three or four bars and your data plan allows for it, this can be quite a nice option.

Backup Internet

In a perfect world, you'd be able to count on WiFi. But we do not live in a perfect world. We live in a world that does not slow down or stop when your internet connection does. You don't want to find yourself crippled by a faulty connection. Fortunately, you may never need to if you know how to use your Smartphone as a mobile broadband modem.

Sync Files

Tethering provides a quick and painless way to transfer files between your PC and your mobile device. It has never been easier to transfer photos, mp3s, and more from your PC to your phone and vice versa.

No More USB Modem

Mobile broadband in the form of USB sticks or data cards can be pricey to obtain, and most companies require you sign a contract in order to use them. By connecting to the Internet via your Smartphone, you eliminate the need to bother with separate mobile broadband devices.

Extend your Laptop Life

Enabling your computer’s WiFi has a surprising drain on battery life. Fortunately, while connected to the internet through your Smartphone via USB or Bluetooth, you can turn off your computer’s WiFi and thereby save a significant amount of power.

[Image Credit: Steve Rhode]