Smartphones Now Used More Than Laptops to Access Wi-Fi Hotspots, Study Finds

For the first time, smartphones are reportedly the most used device to access a wireless hotspot, according to a report released by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA). Results showed that 40% of hotspot connections are from smartphones, 39% come from laptops, and 17% of hotspot connections are from tablets.

According to the study’s authors, the need for wireless access is growing, and while there are still some caveats, the hope is that in the near future, Next Generation Hotspots (NGH) will be adopted, eliminating many issues  users may have with current hotspots. NGH are gaining in popularity, with 19% of operator respondents planning to deploy NGH by the end of 2013, which will increase the ease of getting a secure connection.

The Chairman of the WBA, JR Wilson, states it is important that when this technology is deployed, that “operators continue to work together and employ open standards thereby creating a truly global Wi-Fi network.” With users increasingly accessing hotspots via their smartphones, providers will need to work together to create a seamless experience as more providers adopt NGH.