Wi-Fi hotspots

Posted on 14 Aug 2007 at 14:54

Treat public hotspots like shared PCs in a hotel: don't use them for transmitting sensitive data.

Incompatible networks

The idea of leaping from hotspot to hotspot while out of the office is enticing, but far from easy. Sign up for a T-Mobile pass, for example, and not only do you have access to its 3,517 UK hotspots, but also the 7,500 available through BT Openzone as part of a cross-network roaming deal.

It sounds comprehensive, but there's a catch on some tariffs: on a limited period pass "roaming charges apply". On BT Openzone hotspots, T-Mobile customers must pay £6 an hour, the same price you'd pay for access if you gave the money straight to BT. What a bargain.

The Cloud by contrast lets subscribers sign into any of the partners on its network, but not with all its packages - the cheaper Ultra Wi-Fi subscription works only in The Cloud's own locations.

"Roaming between suppliers is getting better, but it's still relatively limited to subscription users and only where there's a roaming agreement in place between operators," says Carter. "There are still very few large aggregators in the Wi-Fi space."

And it isn't only intra-network customers who have compatibility problems, especially if you're using vouchers, which 90% of customers still do, according to The Cloud. "There are a small number of sites run by The Cloud that don't accept Cloud vouchers purchased externally to that location," the company says, which will be of little comfort to customers trying to log on to the excluded sites, such as Earl's Court, Olympia and Manchester University.

Solution: Whether or not you'll pay extra for using another company's hotspots depends on many factors. Check terms and conditions scrupulously before signing up to any roaming subscription deal.

Overseas hotspots

Hotspots often come in handy on business trips overseas, especially given the criminal charges for mobile data roaming, yet international Wi-Fi roaming remains subject to a host of problems.

The UK's biggest Wi-Fi hotspot provider, The Cloud, believes international roaming is so flaky it doesn't even offer customers the option. "The roaming experience really isn't very good: there's a different loading page, it doesn't come up in your language and you might have to reconfigure passwords so they work locally," says Geddes. "We'll be offering roaming, but at the moment it doesn't work well enough."

Even when options exist, they require an additional payment, and often it's a payment that would be far cheaper on the ground. BT Openzone customers dropping into a Telia HomeRun hotspot in Europe or America will see their bill hit with a 20p-a-minute charge - a staggering £12 an hour. And "roaming isn't possible if you're a BT Openzone Voucher or BT Openzone Choice customer".

Solution: Be prepared to pay local fees in local currency - it's often cheaper. Signing up with iPass, Boingo or Trustive means minutes paid for in the UK can be used overseas.