| Right now, there are tons of commercials going | | | | Internet access. Setting up a wireless network in |
| on about mobile and wireless Internet. Some | | | | a home or small office building is really simple, and |
| people think that these terms are being used | | | | pretty much anyone who can read a set of |
| synonymously, but they actually mean different | | | | directions can do it. |
| things normally. It's really important that you | | | | Mobile Internet, on the other hand, is actually a |
| know the difference between these two types of | | | | different type of access. It is, of course, wireless, |
| service, especially when you're getting ready to | | | | which is why it's sometimes called mobile wireless |
| sign up for Internet service for your home or | | | | Internet. However, this type of connection comes |
| business. Here's a quick primer on what all the | | | | from a different place and has a much wider |
| commercials mean when they say "mobile" and | | | | radius. Instead of coming to your computer |
| "wireless". | | | | through a router, which only has a limited, small |
| Wireless is actually a precedent of mobile Internet, | | | | broadcast radius, mobile Internet comes to your |
| which means that it came first. Wireless | | | | computer through a cell-phone-like tower, which |
| connections can be found in local restaurants and | | | | can broadcast a strong signal for miles around. |
| in hotels across the nation, and you can also set | | | | Since the two types of connections are different, |
| up a wireless connection in your own home. Most | | | | the requirements for connecting to them are |
| often, wireless connections in homes and | | | | different, too. Wireless networks are more |
| businesses come through a router, which is | | | | vulnerable than mobile networks. If you have a |
| plugged in to a wired connection, such as one that | | | | computer and a password, you can hack into just |
| runs through a telephone line or a cable | | | | about any wireless network without much trouble, |
| connection. The router will broadcast the Internet | | | | but trying to get a mobile network signal without |
| signal throughout a certain area, and computers | | | | the proper device is like trying to pick up a signal |
| with wireless connection capabilities will be able to | | | | from another cell phone company using your own |
| pick up that signal and use the Internet. | | | | cell phone. It just won't work at all. |
| Most computers these days are built with wireless | | | | These two types of Internet access have been |
| cards already installed in their hardware. A few | | | | revolutionizing our world and communications for |
| years ago, though, you had to have a special card | | | | the past several years, and the advances just |
| in order to pick up wireless access. This type of | | | | keep coming. More and more people are using |
| access is becoming more and more common | | | | mobile Internet as a way to access their email |
| throughout the nation, as even people with small | | | | and communications on the road, and almost all |
| apartments do away with the need for their | | | | homes with Internet now have wireless access. |
| computers to be wired to the wall in order to get | | | | We'll just see where it all leads eventually. |