A laptop is a great work tool because it is so portable. You can access information stored on the laptop any time you want and if you have authorization, you can connect it to your corporate computer network remotely via internet from all over the world. For travelling executives and mobile warriors, laptop and wireless internet access capability are two important elements.

With the laptops, you have two options in accessing the internet wirelessly: wireless internet access from the hotspots and the 3g network. If your laptop has the capability of accessing wireless internet from hotspots and 3g network, you can easily get connected to the internet anytime, anywhere, even you can create tunneling to your corporate network via internet securely.

Hotspots Internet Access

In the airport, hotels, café, campus, where hotspots are available free of charge, you can access wireless internet with your laptop (with Wi-Fi enabled). Mostly brand new laptops come with built-in Wi-Fi either 802.11g or 802.11n standards. Typically wireless hotspots connections are not protected with the wireless encryption, besides – you do not know exactly how secure they protect the network. You need to provide a proper protection in working in hotspots.

The downside with laptops is that they can store massive amounts of business information that normally would not leave the confines of the office and computer networks. You should ensure that you only have files and other information on your laptop that you absolutely need to do your job whilst you are not connected to.

Therefore you should make sure that your laptops are well protected with any types of firewall protection either by using default Windows firewall or other third party Internet security software such as BitDefender total internet security. If you need to create tunneling to the corporate network, connect by using the most secured way your VPN infrastructure can supports.

3g Network Internet Access

The easiest way to connect wireless internet for laptop is by accessing the 3g network. 3g networks are offered by cellular phone providers as optional services beside voice and usually cost more than basic voice subscriptions.

In order to connect to the 3G network, you need a 3G modem. A 3G modem is available in three different formats, which are the USB 3G Modem, the USB dongle and the PC data card or ExpressCard. For laptop users, PC-Card or ExpressCard (laptops with ExpressCard enabled) would be better. But many people prefer USB adapter since USB adapter is very flexible and can be used both for Desktops and Laptops.

No matter which 3G modem you choose, the way they work will be almost identical. Generally the modems come with SIM card that is similar to the one mobile phones use and you can insert the SIM card into the slot in the modem. Most 3G modems contain all the necessary software pre-loaded on the modem and when plugged into your computer will either install automatically or will provide simple step-by-step instructions onscreen, although some 3G modems come with install CD instead.

With your modem, you can also share the 3g network by creating Wi-Fi network using the cellular routers such as DIR-450/451 D-link cellular router or Cradlepoint CTR500. But you can also consider MEBR3500 router that supports both traditional DSL/Cable modem and 3g modem.

As the travelling executives and mobile warriors, with your laptop you can access wireless internet by connecting to the hotspots or by using the 3g modem to access the cellular or 3g network.

See also:

• Laptop wireless modem – some modem with router gateway
• How to choose the best gaming laptop
• Wireless routers for XBOX console network