As a busy travel blogger, how would a mobile hotspot like the AT&T Unite for GoPhone by NETGEAR help me? My initial reaction was: “I don’t need a mobile hotspot or mobile WiFi, I already have plenty of connectivity here at home and at the hotels we stay”.
Hmm… Do I really? What happens when the Internet goes down? As someone who completely relies upon her laptop and other mobile devices to keep a business flowing smoothly and to communicate, it is incredibly frustrating when it is temporarily unavailable.
You know how that feels? It is similar to when the plumber turns off the water and you can’t believe how many times you need to wash your hands, want to use the bathroom or brush your teeth and you can’t! That is how it feels to “lose the signal” to the Internet.
I have actually determined that being my own hotspot, could be very beneficial! I was sent the AT&T Unite Mobile Hotspot with very clear and easy directions. I thought that I would have my son set it up for me, but then I realized that if I couldn’t figure it out, other people would might have these issues as well! NETGEAR asked me to use and review the product and give my honest opinion.
Setting it up was easy! It has an intuitive touchscreen with data usage and connection information right at your fingertips. It is connected to a secure AT&T network, it is password protected and you can add up to 10 other devices! Share, share, share!
They provided me with a $25 Refill and Go Card with 2.0 GB of data and a 30 day expiration. Once I loaded the card on the device, I was all set!
Here are some specific product features:
- No Annual Contract – No credit check
- It provides Internet for up to 10 tablets, laptops or other WiFi devices
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Intuitive touchscreen
- 4G LTE
- Guest WiFi- It lets you create a second WiFi network for one time user
I dropped it in my purse and I was ready to go test it out. Very quickly I learned just how valuable this prepaid mobile hotspot could be for me. I took it with us on a trip to Los Angeles and we were staying at a large hotel that offered FREE WiFi. I had no need for the mobile hotspot until… evidently there was construction in the area and they “clipped” the line. We were without Internet for over four hours. Both Craig and I were busily working at our laptops when this happened. It was not a good situation, heads were going to roll.
Personal Experience
1. Internet downtime is not an option for Craig’s business. His daily routine includes the need for a constant Internet connection. I was incredibly frustrated as well! I know the world will not end if I cannot utilize my laptop or iPad properly, but it is still a huge inconvenience. My AT&T Unite for GoPhone rescued both of us that day.
2. On another occasion, while waiting for a delayed flight, we turned on the mobile WiFi and we were ready to work. No interruption of connectivity!
3. My father was in the hospital having a procedure and I was waiting for him to be released. I was kept waiting for a short time, but my iPad worked great! No worry about whether I was connected to the Internet.
Honestly, I can think of many different ways this device can be useful in so many different situations. This would be great for families to take on the road to keep the kids entertained with their many games and devices. I know all of us can use our smart phones in a pinch, but I cannot work on my blog from my phone, it would be very challenging. Traveling like we do, we are always on the go and never know when we will lose our connection. I also like the fact that I can share it with other people and the battery lasted 10 hours. By using the Refill and Go Cards, I can refill it whenever I need to.
Pricing Information
The AT&T Unite for GoPhone is available for $79 from AT&T stores. It is also available at Best Buy, Radio Shack, Amazon and Walmart, prices may vary.
Although I was given one to use, my opinions are my own and I only recommend products that I would use and enjoy. I thought the GoPhone Mobile Hotspot was fantastic and easy to use. If you would like to check out quick product information and some fun videos go to www.att.com/NetgearMobileWiFi
Anything that keeps me connected to the internet is imperative.
Paula – that is so true!
I think people would be interested to know how much data usage was included in your initial $25 load. It’s really amazing here in Europe all the different pricing for what is essentially the same bundle of services. Why does it have to be so hard? LOL
Hi Betsy: I updated my post to reflect the answer to your great question! There is 2.0 GB with the $25 refill card to be used within 30days.
I have been looking into getting a mobile hotspot for my future road trip adventures. I am also wondering how much does it cost to actually use it – $25 for how much usage? It would be a handy device to have around.
I updated my post to reflect the answer to your great question! There is 2.0 GB with the $25 refill card to be used within 30days.
Thank you for the info Suzanne. I will look into it further – I see they do offer international coverage as well, which I will need for the Canadian portion of my roadtrip. I think there may be plans that let you roll unused data to the next month so I will research further on that issue.
That is great Susan. Let me know if I can assist you further! Thank you for reading and for commenting!
We were loaned a hotspot in Italy, that came with an apartment rental and we loved it. Can you use the AT&T device in Europe?
Irene: I looked this up and it appears that you can use it outside the US, you can look at this map: http://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html#fbid=cVhIQcNX9Fv
We have been using a mobile hotspot in the US for 6 years now (since we RV all over North America). My usage has grown to 10 G at $80 per month (not a pay-per-go card). But I have never used it outside of the US because data rates are always very high. Hope they have a truly international program for travelers like us.
Hi Carol: I left a link on the Boomer Facebook group with the International map and info. Check it out!
I found you blog about AT&T Unite for GoPhone by NETGEAR very informative, and you’re right; when you need WiFi, you need it and it’s simply not always available. I am going to check it out!
Thank you Marilyn! I am glad that you received some valuable info!
I’ve never used a mobile hotspot but have been thinking about them lately. So it’s interesting and timely to read your post. I don’t have an immediate use for one, but can imagine some situations in the future where a mobile hotspot would be good. How complete is the coverage across the US?
HI Donna: I believe the coverage is excellent across the United States.
This is good to know. I’ll be on a trip to Canada later this year and I don’t dare use my ATT smart phone data there due to excessive charges, but WiFi can be iffy. This looks like a good option.
I fully agree with you and also have an AT&T Unite mobile hotspot which I use in the USA. Abroad, I use my Skyrowm global mobile hotspot. I do believe in the value of staying connected on the go!
As long as the provider can give you decent coverage I find mobile internet a life saver! As you might know we’re travelling in a mobile home in South America, and in Chile we get really good service with Entel. Every time we cross in Argentina, where no such device is available and coverage is patchy, we appreciate Chile’s network.
Love this idea but I have a different phone plan. I wonder if it would work with Verizon?
Elaine if I understand this correctly, you purchase the device without a plan and just load it with a Refill card that you utilize within in 30 days. So it is about 25/month for average data usage. So it does not matter what phone you have.
We would cease to function without our mobile hotspot! Haven’t used the go phone variety, but ours is AT&T and works just fine.
It is a great help – you never know if your hotel provides WiFi – or if it will work!
Hi Suzanne,
Excellent information, thanks! And you are right, there are so many times this little device could come in handy — or solve frustration over weak or absent internet connections.
Josie
Josie – It sure saved us on a couple of occasions!
great information and perfect timing. I’ve been researching plans for an upcoming trip.
Glad I could help!
This would have been great to have when we recently visited South Africa and Turkey, both countries where the wifi was maddening even in 5 star hotels—-actually, especially in 5 star hotels.
Suzanne – Even in the hotels with “free” wifi, we still didn’t get reception. The device is a life saver for a business traveler, or travel writer.