subject: What Is A Wi-fi Cloud? [print this page] Normally, when we hear about cloud computing, we tend to shift focus to massive online storage databases.
A Wi-Fi cloud borrows a few ideas from cloud computing, but the major difference about it is that a Wi-Fi cloud is basically made up of hundreds of hotspots instead of dedicated computer servers.
How does a Wi-Fi cloud work?
To get a basic understanding of how a Wi-Fi cloud works, simply compare it to how your cellphone receives network coverage.
There are usually hundreds to thousands of network boosters that have been laid out all over a region like a town or a city. When a user moves from one area to another, his/her cellphone automatically switches to a network booster that has more signal strength.
Wi-Fi hotspots work in a similar way too. In a Wi-Fi cloud, there are hundreds of hotspots that are meant to serve users with internet services. When a person moves from one region, he/she is automatically switched to a hotspot with better signal strength so that he/she can continue enjoying internet services.
What are the features of a Wi-Fi cloud?
The most common feature of a Wi-Fi cloud is the fact that internet services are nearly free. Most of the internet providers offer internet services for free on Wi-Fi clouds.
Secondly, Wi-Fi clouds have no data limits. This means that you can browse and surf over the internet without necessarily worrying about data costs. This is great for businessmen and businesswomen since they can carry on with their work without having to pay for the internet services.
Some internet providers also provide TV services along with the free internet, and since they rely on Wi-Fi clouds, the speeds are fast enough for the average computer user.
Does a Wi-Fi cloud work similarly to 3G?
Wi-Fi clouds and 3G have lots of similarities. 3G uses network boosters to keep you connected while a Wi-Fi cloud uses hotspots. However, with 3G, one is always worried about the amount of data that is used up when browsing on the internet.
A Wi-Fi cloud on the other hand is free to use, and most of the restrictions that 3G users face have been lifted off for Wi-Fi cloud users.
In terms of connection speed, devices which are connected in a Wi-Fi cloud generally experience higher speeds than those that use 3G. Wi-Fi has bandwidth speeds of up to 600Mbs while 3G internet users can only experience maximum speeds of approximately 50Mbs.
The future of Wi-Fi cloud
Advancements in technology are slowly pushing Wi-Fi clouds to a whole new level. By now, Hotspot 2.0 has taken care of most of the problems that Wi-Fi users usually experience when surfing online. Security threats of open Wi-Fi hotspots, for instance, have been eradicated thanks to the numerous authentication options that are nowadays available.
