10 tips for using the internet whilst on the move

Cloud computing, smartphones and netbooks mean more of us than ever before are free from a desk-bound PC.To make the most of your mobile experience, check out these essential tips for computing on the move…

1. Tether your phone

If you aren't away from a wireless network often, then getting a broadband dongle might not be worthwhile. Instead, try tethering your mobile phone, provided your network supports it.

Essentially, your laptop uses the mobile's internet connection for its data. Most modern phones include tethering options, although you may need to activate it by contacting your mobile provider.

 2. Use MiFi

A MiFi dongle is a little gadget that’s about the size of a compact mobile phone. you can connect multiple laptops and other devices to the mobile internet via a 3G Wi-Fi connection

Mobile network '3' seem to be leading the way in the UK with MiFi although all the major mobile networks will be offering them in the near future 

The MiFi creates a mobile wi-fi hotspot that any wi-fi enabled device can connect to for access to the Internet

 

3. Call with Skype

Save money on expensive hotel phone bills by making your calls over Skype.

If you have a decent wireless connection and a laptop with a microphone, you can buy flat-rate calls to landlines using Skype for £2.24 per month, or use your Phone with the skype app to make and receive calls using 3G

4. Find Wi-Fi hotspots

Check out where you're travelling in advance to see if there are any free Wi-Fi hotspots about. To find them, simply browse to jiwire.com and enter a postcode or location. It will provide a list of nearby hotspots and connection details. They currently list 381,611 free and pay Wi-Fi locations in 144 countries

5. Get local SIMs

Call and data charges for roaming can be steep, even when you take EU caps into consideration. With an unlocked phone, it could be much cheaper to buy a local pay-as-you-go SIM. Check out the providers' websites before travelling to see which company offers the best data plans.

6. Buy a Skype number

A further way to save money on phone calls abroad is to invest in a Skype number. You can get one free if you buy a month's landline calls.

Give this to your contacts and they'll be able to call you at a normal UK landline rate. If you're not on Skype when they call, they'll be able to leave you a voice mail. When you call them back using Skype via Wi-Fi, you'll only pay the cost of a UK landline call.

7. Install Dropbox

Whether you're home or abroad, it helps to be able to get access, at any time, to the most recent version of whatever documents you're actively working on. Dropbox provides online storage and synchronisation with as many computers as you install it on.

The first 2GB of storage is free, which is enough for most people's active documents. When you make changes and save them to your Dropbox folder on your computer, these are uploaded to Dropbox and then replicated on your other machines as soon as you log on. there are also apps for your phone that allow you to get to any of your dropbox documents

 8. Use Portable Apps

If you're on the move and your laptop dies, then you need a way to access your data and most common programs. Install Portable Apps on a USB flash drive alongside your most useful files and you can enjoy your own virtual desktop on any public PC

 

9. Secure your passwords

Keepass is an open-source password management program that stores your passwords in an encrypted file.

Install the program on your laptop and then save the password database file in your Dropbox folder. Do the same on any other computers that are running Dropbox and you can access your most up-to-date passwords from any of your PCs. 

Ensure that Dropbox is secured with a strong password. If your laptop breaks, you'll still be able to get to your password database using the Portable Apps version of Keepass and web access to Dropbox.

  

10. Use the cloud

Dropbox is a good example of a cloud-based service that can be invaluable when you're on the move, but it's worth considering using other services to increase your storage. You can use a combination of photo services, such as Flickr, Picasa and Photobucket, along with Google Docs, Zoho and gOffice for documents.

Then you can get general storage at Humyo or Carbonite, which both offer a lots of space. Remember to select encrypted providers for sensitive information. Most of these services also provide sharing options that make sending someone else a document as simple as passing on a URL.