Online is the new offline
By 
For the first time in history, you can actually be on a train but also somewhere else – let’s call it ‘online’ – at the same time. Imagination and daydreaming aside, of course. The girl sitting next to you is checking her Facebook account. Next to her there’s a guy following live all the action from the World Cup. Right across the carriage there’s a lady listening to Austin Invasion streaming live via iRocke, and next to her a kid is poking holes in virtual balloons on Fupa. Believe it or not, they all have something in common (besides sharing the same carriage): mobile internet technology.
Mobile seems to be the keyword for this century’s technology. What does it do? It allows you to do all the things you normally use your broadband connection for, but without needing a landline telephone connection. It’s the kind of technology that travels with you. You get online on the move, whether you’re commuting by public transport or sipping cocktails on some exotic beach.
How does it actually work? You need either a small portable USB modem or a data card. Most laptops have a built-in device or a mobile Wi-Fi unit to connect to the internet using the same signal mobile phones use. Obviously, you need a USB port on your device and a compatible computer operating system, and you should be ready to go. Take for instance Australia’s iiNet Mobile Broadband, and its mobile broadband plans.
Many phone and internet companies offer attractive packages that include a dongle (the USB stick), various fees and ‘rewards’. The world is full of comparison tables to help you decide on the package or offer that best suits your needs. Not to mention that dongles, laptops, and other mobile devices are improving all the time, so getting mobile broadband gets easier and easier. All you need to do is plug your wireless USB modem in, follow a few simple instructions, and you can be connected within minutes, even in remote places. Train rides will never be the same again!
featured image courtesy of Zach Graham
