What is Tethering and Hotspot?

Tethering means sharing the Internet connection of an Internet-capable mobile phone or internet tablet with other devices like laptop.

This sharing can be offered over:

• A wireless LAN (Wi-Fi),
• Bluetooth, or
• USB

In the case of tethering over wireless LAN, the feature may be branded as a mobile hotspot. The Internet-connected mobile phone acts as a portable router when providing tethering services to others.

Why Tathering?

• When traveling, in places where local Wi-Fi hotspots are unavailable or inconvenient
• In rural areas or other residential locations where no high-speed Internet access options exist.
• As an emergency fall back option in the home, when the primary form of high-speed Internet access is unavailable due to service outage.
• You can also surf the web more securely using a tethered cell phone, because your information is being sent directly through the phone, for example, over a public open wireless hotspot.
• You may also conserve some laptop battery power, because you can turn off wi-fi on your laptop while you use your tethered cellular modem.

Why not Tathering?

• A mobile broadband data plan with tethering option is required; these may be more expensive than standard home broadband and may also limit the amount of network traffic.
• Connections often run at very low speeds (data rates significantly less than 1 Mbps)
• Phone and cellular network providers may forbid using some devices for tethering, or void their warranty.
• Using your cell phone's data service for your laptop will, however, drain the phone's battery more quickly, especially if you're using bluetooth to connect. If you have a USB port on your laptop that can also charge devices, tethering via USB would be a better way to connect.
• You also may not be able to use your voice service on the cell phone while it is tethered, depending on your particular phone and connection method.

Hotspot

A hotspot is any location where Wi-Fi network access (usually Internet access) is made publicly available.

Technically speaking, hotspots consist of one or several wireless access points installed inside buildngs and/or adjoining outdoor areas.

A hotspot is a site that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider. Hotspots typically use Wi-Fi technology.