Maine wireless Internet is critical for most business professionals to have, as it allows them the flexibility of working anywhere. If you are a professional who has been hesitant to try wireless Internet because you think it is slow, know that it is now considered as fast as DSL, and much faster than a dial-up connection. Wireless Internet services in Maine should no longer be considered a luxury, but rather a necessity to keep up with the business world.

When looking for pricing and costs of wireless Internet providers in Maine, think about how you want to connect. Does your phone have the option for Internet, or would you be connecting from your laptop? You have many choices when it comes to pricing and costs of wireless Internet providers in Maine:

1. Get Internet on your laptop using your cell phone.
   
2. Obtain Internet on your laptop computer using Maine Internet providers.
   
3. Get online using your cell phone.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use tethering to transfer Internet services in Maine from your phone to your laptop

If your laptop did not come with an Ethernet card, you can still get Internet by purchasing a wireless Internet plan on your Smartphone. This allows you to connect your computer and cell phone through a cable to transfer the Internet to your laptop, also known as tethering. Such services cost about $15 to $30 per month, in addition to a data plan.

I recommend: Verizon Wireless charges $15 to $30 per month to tether a cell phone with Internet to a laptop. Find out how to obtain tethering services from Sprint at Smart Device Central. Sprint charges around $25 per month to use your phone as a modem to get Internet to your laptop.

Talk to wireless Internet providers in Maine to get Internet on your laptop

Connect to the Internet from your laptop using ISP providers in Maine. Such a connection is helpful for professionals who want the convenience of portability, but need to actually work on projects using a word processing program or other service not found on a typical cell phone. When it comes to wireless Internet, Maine has plenty of service providers that charge anywhere from $20 to $200 per month.

I recommend: According to the TheISPGuide.com, those near the city of Brunswick should expect to pay between $21 and $100 per month for unlimited wireless Internet. Business Internet subscription plans at AiroLink range from $50 to $200 per month, depending on the desired connection speed.

Take advantage of Maine mobile Internet on your cell phone

If you would like to access the Internet while in line at the store, on your lunch break or any other place where you might not have access to a computer, consider obtaining Maine high speed wireless Internet on your phone. Many cell phone providers offer a data plan that allows users to get online for anywhere from $20 to $60 per month.

I recommend: T-Mobile offers Internet from $40 to $55 for unlimited Internet, depending on your phone. AT&T offers a myriad Internet plans for $20 to $60 for local Internet access. Prices depend on your phone type and the amount of data usage allowed.

Wireless Internet providers in Maine are considered life-savers for many business professionals due to the convenience they have been afforded by wireless Internet. Whether you need to receive wireless Internet on your cell phone or laptop, you can make your life easier and your work day more productive by obtaining wireless Internet anywhere you go.

In order to get wireless Internet services in Maine, you simply need the following:

1. Maine high speed wireless Internet contract

2. Smartphone; or

3. Laptop with or without an ethernet card

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use your smartphone to obtain Maine wireless Internet service

Smartphones can perform a myriad of neat functions, some of which you might never need to use. However, the one function every smartphone includes is the ability to access wireless Internet. This is because many cell phone providers know how crucial constant access to a fast Internet connection is for businesspeople. To take advantage of this feature, simply add wireless Internet services to your cell phone plan.

I recommend: Verizon Wireless is one of the most popular wireless Internet providers nationwide, as the company is reliable and offers many business products and services. Check out the coverage map to find out Verizon services your area of Maine. Nextel also offers many options for wireless Internet in Maine for Smartphones.

Tether your Smartphone to your laptop to use your Maine mobile Internet on your computer

If your laptop did not come with an ethernet card, you no longer have to purchase one to receive Internet. Instead, you can use your smartphone's wireless connection and a cable to tether your phone and laptop together, enabling wireless Internet on your computer. You simply have to purchase a wireless Internet plan from your cell phone service provider and a tethering cable, and you will have high speed Internet on both your cell phone and laptop.

I recommend: AT&T encourages tethering when possible, and sells the cables necessary to perform this function. Find an AT&T store in Maine to buy the cable. Tethering is also possible with some T-Mobile phones, such as the Blackberry, Sidekick and similar smartphones. Check out a coverage chart to ensure your city gets service.

Obtain wireless Internet on your laptop through ISP providers in Maine

Although it may not sound as fancy or high-tech as some of the other ways to get wireless Internet, accessing the Web through your laptop is one of the most basic and reliable ways to receive wireless Internet. The hardest part of this process is deciding which of the Maine Internet providers to go through.

I recommend: Airolink offers wireless coverage to Central Maine, with the coverage area set to expand in the near future. Aroostook Internet provides Maine residents and business owners with high speed Internet at an affordable price.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some local businesses offer customers free wireless Internet services in Maine. You might be required, or at least encouraged, to buy something from these businesses. However, a day of wireless Internet is often worth a few bucks if you cannot purchase your own unlimited access plan. Check out directories of free wireless hot-spots around your city.

When it comes to Maine wireless Internet providers, there are many localized companies providing a plethora of services to Maine businesses. From hosting their websites to providing high-speed wireless access, there is certainly a lingo that Maine wireless internet providers utilize.

Take the time to learn about some of these commonly found terms that you can understand the services your company is leasing. Here are some of those terms along with some quality resources to help get you started.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Wireless connectivity

Wireless connectivity refers to the function of a computer being able to connect to the Internet without the use of hard wires directly into the back of the computer. An important aspect of wireless connectivity is the maximum download speed. The faster the speed, the quicker your business will be able to utilize the Internet to drive sales.

I recommend: Visit the website for Airolink, a wireless Internet provider in Maine, for a template describing what wireless connectivity entails. Airolink also has information on the business wireless connectivity plans they offer.

Speed test

A speed test refers to a diagnostic challenge where your Internet connection determines the download speed (meaning how fast it retrieves information) and the upload speed (how fast it sends information.) The faster these speeds, the faster your connection to the Internet. Many individual and business people test their wireless speeds to ensure that they are performing optimally.

I recommend: Visit the website Aroostook Internet, a Maine Internet service provider, that allows customers and potential customers to perform a speed test on their website. Simply click on the tab titled "speed test" for further instructions.

Freeware, shareware

Freeware or shareware are programs or applications which are provided by your wireless Internet provider which help connect to the Internet. The freeware or shareware is not usually authored by the Internet wireless provider, however, the usage of those applications are built into the monthly fee.

I recommend: Visit the website for Clinic.net, a Maine wireless provider, for further information regarding the operation of freeware and shareware.

Remote desktop support

Remote desktop support refers to an application offered by Maine Internet wireless providers where the 'support team' can remotely take over your computer and set-up or fix the wireless connection for your home or office.

I recommend: Visit the website for Pioneer Broadband, another Maine wireless Internet provider. Their website has a detailed remote desktop support application.

Back-up services

Back-up services refer to an application provided by many wireless providers where every so often they download any recently saved work remotely and back it up for the consumer. This is quite popular for businesses without on location back-up storage.

I recommend: Visit the website for Red Dawg. An Internet service provider in Maine with a wireless plan, there is a comprehensive look at what a back-up service entails.

Web hosting services

Web hosting services refers to a package offered by many Maine wireless Internet providers where they provide space on their servers to 'host' a personal or corporate web page. The more expansive the business website, the higher the cost charged by the hosting company.

I recommend: Visit the website for Mid-coast Internet Solutions for additional information on the web hosting services offered to their Maine customers.