You may have heard about wireless internet, but you aren’t quite clear on what wireless internet actually is. “Wireless” has been used for quite some time to refer to home and office networks. These networks are usually created by using a traditional internet connection, and then broadcasting that connection a short distance with W-LAN technologies like Wi-Fi. Modern wireless internet technology isn’t like these W-LAN technologies at all. It is now possible to experience a truly mobile and wireless internet that follows you everywhere you go. But is this new breakthrough right for you? Let’s take a look at some of the most important aspects of wireless internet.

1. Speed

Although wireless internet can’t currently match the super-fast speeds of many modern broadband internet services, it can still provide a fairly robust experience. Current top speeds for wireless internet on 3g networks is about 1.4 Mb per second. That’s still about 25 times faster than dial-up internet, so it’s not like you’ll be waiting forever for pages to load; but you may need to give videos a little time to buffer.

2. Price

Despite the tremendous advantages of wireless internet, it is amazing how low the price is. It uses the same technology that your cell phone uses to place calls, so in many ways the prices are comparable to cell phone calling plans. However, some providers offer monthly packages as low as $4.99, which is a great value.

3. Download Limits

When selecting your wireless internet plan, it is important to pay attention to download limits. In general, the higher your download limit, the more your monthly charges will be. You should be honest with yourself about how much you plan on using your wireless internet. If you’ll probably just use it to check your email and the news a couple times per day, then you can probably get away with a low limit. If you plan on watching YouTube for hours at a time while relaxing on the beach, then you should opt for a higher limit.

4. Contract

Whether or not you sign a contract may depend on several factors. If you already have a cell phone plan with a wireless carrier, then you may be able to add a wireless internet plan onto your current contract. In general, contracts can provide you with a lower monthly cost, but you’ll have reduced flexibility if you want to change providers in the near future.

5. Location

This is probably the best advantage of the wireless internet. It is by far the internet solution that is available in the most locations. The internet is broadcast out to your laptop or mobile device via radio waves from cell phone towers. Any time you are in an area where there is cell phone reception, you should be able to access the wireless internet.

6. Extras

It’s possible to get some free extras when you sign up for a wireless internet plan. Most companies will provide you with the free wireless USB modem that you will need to pick up the wireless signal. Sometimes, you can even get a brand new netbook for free.

7. Bundles

Since wireless internet is typically provided by cellular service companies, the most common bundle packages involve cell phone service. If you are considering wireless internet, checking with your current cell phone service provider is a great place to begin your search.

8. Reputation

Reputation is definitely an important factor when choosing a wireless internet service provider. Since you will be relying on the cellular network for your internet connection, you want to make sure that the wireless internet service provider has a reputation for a stable and reliable network – especially in the areas that you plan on using it the most.

Considering the immense flexibility that a wireless internet connection can provide you, and considering the reasonable prices; wireless internet is one of the best values you can hope to buy.