Advances in mobile Internet connectivity are coming thick and fast. This probably isn’t news to you, right?
But with the speed at which these advances are coming, it can be hard to find the time to think of the implications. Is technology advancing at a fast enough rate to keep up with our desired lifestyles? Are we being kept as safe as we need to be from cybercrime? Read ahead. You’ll get more information about the problems we’re facing and the companies attempting to tackle them.
Reliability
When it comes to getting connected on the move, we seem to have all of that sorted. But what about staying connected? This might not seem like a tremendous task when you’re moving at, say, a usual walking pace. Unless, of course, you’re trying to stay connected to a local Wi-Fi spot. If you’re moving away from your average AT&T hotspot in New York City, for example, then you’re going to lost that signal no matter how slow you go! The connections we’re talking about are non-Wi-Fi dependent telecommunication methods. 3G, for example.
The problem emerges when you have people moving at fast speeds. This could be someone in a moving car, or it could be someone on an aeroplane. Are you aware of how fast you move on an aeroplane? On your typical 747, you’re likely to be travelling in the region of 400-600 miles per hour. How can you get a reliable connection at that kind of speed? Companies like Kymeta are the ones making advances in this field. They’re using metamaterials that can create stronger electromagnetic signals at high speeds. Basically, these help satellites remain fixed on targets that are moving at incredible speeds!
Security
With the ubiquitous nature of mobile connectivity, people are often putting themselves at risk. Whenever you see an unprotected Wi-Fi hotspot, the temptation is to connect to it to get free Internet access. People tend to see “unprotected” as a good thing when used in the context of public Wi-Fi. They forget about the implications of the ord “unprotected”. It means exactly what it means in any other arena. If you’re connected to it, you have absolutely no guarantee that your mobile device is safe.
These dangers have not gone unnoticed by technology companies. In 2016, there are more firewall and antivirus apps available for mobile phones than ever before. AT&T are also putting together plans to provide more secure Wi-Fi hotspot in high-population areas. Just remember: if you’re unfamiliar with the network, you shouldn’t be connecting to it.
Entertainment
One of the biggest problems your everyday gadget user is facing relates to data usage. Connections are getting faster and the Internet is providing more and more content all the time. This makes it easier to consume more entertainment on the go. This means you’re downloading more and more all the time. This is causing data usage fees to balloon to amounts that your average user is becoming less willing to pay.
Thankfully, many cell phone companies are making moves towards cheaper plans. Unlimited data plans for affordable prices are being put in place by companies like T-Mobile and FreedomPop. Going into 2016 and beyond, make sure you get mobile Internet plans that will cover your entertainment consumption!