Tech Time: Look Ma! No Wires

Internet has become so much a part of our lives; constant access is almost a requirement (at least for me).  To keep connected, many of us turn to wireless devices like mobile phones and tablets, in addition to laptops.

To stay connected, with no wires, our options include 3G, 4G and WiFi.  Of course, you can connect via EDGE, but the wireless race is for the swift and EDGE just doesn’t cut it.

3G (LIME and Digicel)

Both Digicel and LIME offer mobile internet via 3G accessible via phone handsets, and tablets.  LIME offers USB dongles, specially designed modems and even MiFi devices on 3G.

Pre-paid data packages are limited by both duration (1, 7, 30 days) and data limits (from 500 MB to 7 GB).   Speed varies, but generally, 3G ‘advertises’ a download speed of about 1MBps.

4G (LIME and Digicel)

The next evolution of mobile internet, 4G claims to be 10 times faster than 3G.  In reality, it delivers download speeds of about 5 Mbps.

LIME and Digicel use different 4G technologies; LIME recently announced its 4G hotpots that offer mobile 4G access in select areas.  Digicel offers island wide 4G data access via a dongle, WiFi modems and MiFi.

WiFi (Flow and LIME)

Mobile internet is great, but if speed is what you need, and reliable speed at that, WiFi is the way to go.  Plug a WiFi router into LIME’s or Flow’s broadband and reliable, high speed internet is yours.  Flow offers faster speeds of up to 100 Mbps and Flow Unplugged zones at select locations for free WiFi access. 

To access WiFi with mobile devices like phone handsets and tablets. Just turn on the WiFi option and connect.  All tablets have built in WiFi, but not all tablets have 3G/4G mobile capabilities. 

Tech Time airs on FAME 95 FM every Tuesday morning at 8:00 AM.