Connecting to the internet from your tablet

The tablet is the latest development in mobile computing technology, and more and more Australians are using tablets as their preferred means of media consumption and information sharing while on-the-go. Tablets are essentially flat-panel portable PCs that are able to connect wirelessly to the internet, and some of the most popular models include the iPad, iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy.



Once you’ve made your foray into the tablet world, you might be wondering how you connect to the internet from your iPad, Galaxy Tab or other tablet device. There are a number of ways that tablet owners can access the internet and make the most of their tablet’s functionality.



- Micro SIM and 3G connection. If your tablet has 3G capabilities then you can access 3G networks through a micro SIM from a mobile broadband provider. By inserting the micro SIM into your tablet, you will have access to the 3G network of your service provider, and be able to connect to the internet wirelessly and while on-the-go. Just as your smartphone can connect to 3G and Wi-Fi networks, so can tablets with 3G capabilities.



Users can get micro SIMs from a number of different mobile broadband providers, on prepaid mobile broadband, or mobile broadband plans. That means that you can pay for your 3G mobile broadband data usage as you go, or go on a monthly rollover plan.



- Wi-Fi. Some tablets can only access the internet through Wi-Fi networks. Whether this is from your home wireless broadband connection or from public Wi-Fi hotspots, tablets can tap into these networks in much the same way a laptop or mobile phone does.



Certain smartphones also have the capability of being used as a Wi-Fi router, also known as tethering. These include iPhones and most smartphones that use the Android operating system. By activating the setting that allows it, the mobile phone’s access to a 3G network can be accessed by an external device such as a tablet.


Once you’ve got your tablet device, decide on which wireless internet connection option suits you. Blink, for example, offers the option of bundling the payment of a tablet device with a monthly mobile broadband data package.


How will you access the internet from your tablet?

As the Australian tablet market expands, head to www.blinkit.net.au to get the best tablet and prepaid mobile broadband