Packing List
If you have noticed how frequent I updated my travel blog during my travel to Japan recently, I brought along my iPad this time so I had a writing pad with me every time on long distance trains in Japan to update my blog. But most importantly, I had internet access on the go to keep uploading it to my blog. Yes. Being skeptical over the availability of internet access in my hotels and public places, I rented a WiFi mobile hotspot device prior to my travel to Japan this round, in order to stay connected wherever I went to! 
What a WiFi mobile hotspot does? WiFi mobile hotspot is a small piece of mobile device that acts as both cellular network connector and WiFi router. That said, it becomes an internet hotspot and all your mobile devices such as iPhone and iPad can connect to it through wiFi to access the local 3G HSDPA network unlimitedly. It works similarly to what your mobile carrier does with its data roaming service, but with a much lower daily rates. XCom Global provides this device rental service. I decided to try it out on my Japan travel and it worked!
Most of you might have heard of the “WiFi” mobile hotspot rental service wherever you travel in the world. XCom Global, a leading provider of low cost wireless internet access rental services for international travelers, provide this service with a low flat daily cost to travelers.
After using it for 10 days, I found it to be extremely useful and versatile. Here are some advantages of WiFi mobile hotspot over the data roaming:
- It offers a low flat rate per day with unlimited internet access;
- It is separate device which means you can switch off your phone or put it into Plane mode;
- It won’t drain out your phone’s battery;
- It supports HSDPA, also known as High-Speed Data Packet Access, for high speed internet access, regardless what phone you are using.
- With one single device, all your IT gadgets are connected to the world (as long as they are WiFi compatible)
I used it extensively on my Japan travel to check emails, blogging, updating Facebook status, surfing net to check maps, direction to tourist spots, weather, currency exchange rate, trains schedule and more. With internet access on the go, it just made my Japan travel a whole lot easier! I was able to locate myself on the digital map and direct me to my destination!
There is only one caution: Battery life of 4 hours usage and 10 hours standby as claimed is optimistic. It depends on the weather, just like my camera’s battery. It was so cold out there in Japan that the device’s battery could only last for 3 1/2 hours of extensive usage after each charge. Having said that, the good news is, there is an USB port at the back of the MiFi device that you can plug it with USD cable to your laptop and it will be back to live again!
XCom Global’s WiFi mobile hotspot keeps you connected to any WiFi compatible device. The WiFi freedom helps you stay connected with friends and family everywhere you go in the world (175 countries), at an affordable flat rate. For more information about the service and coverage, please check out their website at http://www.xcomglobal.com/. – Travel Feeder, the ultimate travel photo blog.
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