As someone who over-relies on the power of the internet for work, one of my pet peeves is being at the mercy of sluggish wifi when traveling. I’ve been frustrated by having a slow connection in conference spaces, hotels, meeting rooms, and airports and my solution has always been a mobile USB stick unless we’re traveling as a family. Rather than paying the pricey daily rate for wifi per device, connected families should invest in a .
How does the NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband hotspot work?
NetZero devices operate off of the 4G cellular network, the same network as many cell phone carriers are using, to provide secure, fast internet access. Your NetZero hotspot is password encrypted to provide a private connection to the internet that keeps your information safe from hackers. Each time you want to connect to the internet, turn the NetZero hotspot on and type in the password that appears on the screen on the top of the device to access the internet via the 4G cellular connection.
This compact device fits in the palm of my hand and is highly portable. I’ve added it to my arsenal of tech products I travel with because it provides a secure internet connection. I’m no longer at the mercy of free public wifi that always poses a security risk, potentially jeopardizing my personal information to identity thieves.
The NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband is also great to use when we travel as a family since multiple devices can connect to the internet at the same time. It allows up to 8 laptops, netbooks, iPads, and tablets to be online at the same time and is easy to use right out of the box once it’s fully charged.
How much does it cost?
NetZero has different devices available. There’s a stick that can be plugged into your PC or Mac that allows a single user to access the internet at a time and the 4G Mobile Broadband hotspot that allows multiple devices to connect.
NetZero has a holiday offer where they’re offering with a paid purchase plan until January 3, 2013.
My NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband hotspot is $49.98, half off the regular purchase price of $99.95. The NetZero 4G stick is on sale for $24.98.
NetZero 4G USB Stick (L) and NetZero Mobile Broadband Hotspot (R)
The monthly plan you select depends on how much data you plan to use per month. There are multiple plans available to meet your needs:
Win a and a year of service worth over $300! To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below! Good luck! This is an amazing giveaway!
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I received a NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband hotspot device and a year of service in exchange for this post as part of a Mom It Forward campaign. All opinions are my own. Images courtesy of NetZero.
My wifi problem is at work. My work doesn’t provide wifi access. I’ve been tempted to get a net zero kit to have secure wifi access during my lunch hour.
I can understand that lots of employers don’t provide wifi at work due to security concerns. This would be a great solution! Good luck!
I would prefer the mobile hotspot unit.
When my husband and I go somewhere and he doesnt want to ask for directions this would be a good thing because then he could just pull up a map- thats when wifi would be helpful!
So true! You can use this in the car to connect your tablet to the cellular network to pull up maps if your car doesn’t have navigation!
When I travel I hate having to pay for bad hotel wifi!
Also, I always worry about being hacked. That happened to some of my friends at a blog conference this year.
If I don’t win, I’ll win up buying this. It’s a good deal.
Oh no! Being hacked at a blog conference is just awful! I feel like hotel wifi is a crap shoot and constantly question its security too!
yes. please. need. neeeeeeeeeeed.
Really, I wonder how much I would use a month? 200? 300? Surely not 1000?
LOL Julie! It’s definitely a must-have for bloggers! My NetZero hotspot saved me when my phone, internet, and cable went out on a bright sunny day a couple of weeks ago! That’s a good question about the data plan. Maybe look at your bill from your cellular carrier to see how much data you’re accessing on a regular basis to get a general idea of the plan you’d need from NetZero. I’d estimate conservatively too since it’s often easier to upgrade than downgrade.
visited net zero, but you know I’d end up asking you and grace which one I should get before purchasing. I have no idea until the techtwins tell me what to do.
I SO need one of these! I love working away from home but you can’t trust free wifi!
When we drive on vacations, I do a lot of writing as the passenger but then I can’t get online to look anything up or finish what I’ve started. Wifi in the car for me would rock!
The hotspot would get the whole family wired on the go – iPads and computers 🙂
I need this! This would be a great geeky addition 🙂
We have a few WiFi-dependent devices (iTouch, MG, Kindle Fire) that we love to travel with, but sometimes sit idle when we are away from a hot spot. This would be awesome to add more usability and value to our devices!
I need one for travel, but also for all the waiting I do for my kids at gymnastics and hockey.
I’d pick the HotSpot as I can use it with whatever device I have on hand.
I like the size of it. Would fit in my purse or computer bag for travel.
Family travel would be ‘less whinny’. Is that a good reason?
I’d love the personal 4G hotspot. Multiple devices rescued from wifi absence.
I would prefer the mobile hotspot unit
it would be great for traveling
My son’s sporting event often conflict with other professional sporting events and my hubby would love to be able to live stream them and multitask!
I need this–our wifi goes out regularly, plus this would be ideal for travel.
One of these would be awesome for working at coffee shops rather than sitting at home. Gotta get one of these!
I travel from PA to FL about once a year. There’s always a few spots where nothing works!
would love to have this when we are out and about and need wifi. hubby does real estate too so would be useful
My husband and I do quite a bit of traveling for our business. This would be really helpful for some of the more rural areas we often find ourselves meeting clients in.
Boy, Mobile Hot Spot sure are becoming popular lately.
I could use a Hot Spot to log in from the malls I have to visit for my job.
I think I would choose the 4g hotpot- for laptops/tablets if I won I would ask you what would be the best option because I am tech challenged!
We were on family vacation staying in a hotel a few months ago that charged for wifi per device. While DH could justify the cost and expense it to his job, the rest of us did without internet access for the week (except for my phone).
I would love to be able to have handy in places that do not have free Wi-fi. Keep everyone entertained. Including me..
greatest challenge is reliable service on-the-go
I would connect my new kindle fire hd that I’m getting for christmas
I will finally be able to keep up with my blog. I am always on the go like most moms.
This is cool.
This would save me a ton of money and I would also be able to easily connect when traveling
id pick the hotspot so i could connect to the internet anywhere
Right now I can only use my ipad where there is free wi-fi but with this I could use it anywhere.
Being in a public park and not being able to get internet or spotty coverage
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Occasionally when working form home my internet goes out. Usually it happens when I am in a bind and I would love to have this as a backup
My husband travels for work and sometimes he gets spotty connection so it would be nice to always be in touch with him!
I like the stick because it is small and easy to carry.
I have been using this wi fi hot spot the for a month now love it, i can connect up to 8 devices on it, no loss,of single i got the one year deal 50 a month but the device was free thanks again, And if you ever do phone i went with the metro 4g great phone for the price and you can bounce off that to but its limited