[Tfug] [Bulk] hot spot vpn

[Bexley Hall]

On 1/9/2013 2:54 PM, Liz Ravenwood wrote:
> Has anyone played with this?
>
> www.hotspotvpn.com<http://www.hotspotvpn.com>

I was hoping someone could shed some firsthand light on this, but...
<frown>  (I couldn't see what it offered that couldn't also be
accomplished in a "pure software" approach...)

> I thought I was buying my own access point, but the "help desk" and
> I are talking in circles and I can't get the dang thing to work.

 From PM's with Liz, it seems she was actually looking for a means of
having internet access "anywhere".  I.e., when there isn't a nearby
*open* access point that she could tap into.  E.g., at the corner of
WALK and DON'T WALK; or somewhere along the road to feenigs; or...

I *think* it is possible to connect a cell phone (with data plan)
to your laptop (???) -- for certain cell phones, data plans, etc.
I'm guessing this is done via the bluetooth connection?  (Or, do
those phones rely on WiFi for this -- even nowadays?).

Anyone have any firsthand experience with this?  And, the costs
in terms of data plans, choice of carriers/phones, etc.?

I'm guessing it is "not cheap".  Not the sort of connection you
would want to use to download ISO's to your laptop.  But, exactly
how painful it might be is something I am clueless about...  :<

Taking it one step further (curiosity killed the cat), what if
you *truly* wanted to be able to access the 'net from *anywhere*
(middle of pacific ocean).  What options do you have, *there*?

--don