Wireless Modems
Many laptop users connect to the internet via a wireless network adapter, which communicates over the airwaves to a wireless access point, often called a router or hub. But there is another, lesser known way that some laptops with wireless internet access get online, and that is via wireless modem.

A wireless modem acts just like a wireless network adapter, except that it is still a modem, as it converts the data from digital to analog and back again, just like when dialing over a phone line. What differentiates this device from a regular modem is that it connects to a wireless network instead of to a telephone line. A wireless modem connects directly to a wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP), which is often a cellular phone company. So, the computer is actually accessing the internet over the same system that handles cell phone calls.

Seven or eight years ago, the only way that a wireless modem could connect to the ISP was via a line-of-sight signal to a large central tower that was set up by the company. For this reason, an antenna usually had to be mounted on the roof of the user’s building, and the wireless modem had to connect to the antenna. Speeds were often slow, and reception was affected by weather and trees that might occasionally get in the way of the path from the antenna to the tower.

These days, the way that most wireless modems connect to the ISP is via a line-of-sight signal to a cell phone tower. Since the data is being accessed over a cell phone network, speeds have improved greatly since the days of rooftop towers. And due to the prevalence of cell phone towers all across the world, one can connect to the internet virtually anywhere, within reason.

Wireless broadband internet service for laptops is available from most of the cell phone providers, and many will throw in a free wireless modem if you sign up for a long-term commitment. The modems work with virtually all laptop brands, such as Dell, HP, Gateway, and others. So, if you are on the go all the time and find it hard to deal with searching for free wireless internet access for laptops at coffee shops, then a wireless modem is a good solution.