How To Turn Your Smartphone into a Mobile Hotspot

Water, sleep, and reliable Wi-Fi. No, this is not a list of my demands. It’s a list of the three things that are in short supply at every blogging conference.

Although, I must admit that the lack of water and sleep probably has more to do with the way I spend my evenings at said blogging conferences rather than a widespread problem. Spotty Wi-Fi, however, is pandemic!

We have to sympathize with conference organizers.  You know they specifically seek venues that can accommodate the non-stop chattering, live blogging, and updating among people who are sitting right next to one another. When a hotel or conference center claims to have excellent Wi-Fi, perhaps it should be repeated, “We are bloggers. You don’t even know the sheer volume of broadband we are capable of absorbing… “

Fortunately, a quick solution can be found right in your pocket… or perhaps charging nearby. Look no further than your smartphone to connect your iPad, laptop, or other device to the Internet.

iPhone 4

Earlier this year, Apple released a free update for the iPhone 4, which turns the 3G smartphone into a “personal Wi-Fi hotspot“. This means iPhone users no longer have to hunt for a Wi-Fi connection for their tablet or laptop when out and about.

A few taps grant users Wi-Fi access wherever a data-capable cellular signal can be received. There is even password protection so that nobody else can take advantage of  your personal wireless network.

The “iOS 4.3 Software Update” debuted in March 2011, so chance are you already have it. If not, you can install it from iTunes, then plug your iPhone into your computer. The update should only take 10-15 minutes.

Once the software update is installed on your iPhone 4, go to your “Settings” menu and look for the new “Personal Hotspot” item. Tap it and slide the option “on”. From there you can set-up a password if you like, or you can simply connect to it with your PC, tablet, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device.

On your device’s network menu, your iPhone should appear as an available network. Connect to it as you would any other Wi-Fi signal, enter your password, and start browsing via your phone’s data plan. As an added bonus, this functionality is not only simple to use, it is also free to connect (beyond your standard mobile rates and individual data plan, that is).

Android Phones

Not to be left unplugged and in the dark, Windows 7 phone and Android users can enjoy the same functionality. Android users, look through your settings menu for “Wi-Fi Hotspot” and turn it on the same way you would on an iPhone. Of, you can download the Quick Settings App and follow this video tutorial on how to set it up.

Window 7 Devices

One final option is to turn your PC into a Wi-Fi hotspot in and of itself. There are three apps for doing which have come highly recommend: Connectify, Bzeek, and Virtual Router. Each app allows you to tether multiple devices to your computer, offers security, and is free to download.

As with all things mobile, the capabilities of your phone primarily comes down to the capabilities of your network and the terms of your agreement. So it’s a good idea to also double-check with your carrier about what additional rates would apply.

This post was inspired by TechSavvyMama, Leticia Bar (@techsavvymama) and Jessica Rosenberg (@kikarose) of It’s My Life, who let me glom onto their mobile Wi-Fi throughout Type-A Conference, where rumor has it that the sheer volume of #TypeACon tweets brought down the Wi-Fi early one morning.

{image credit: miniyo73, Flickr}