Having experienced WiFi technologies on a regular basis and being able to use it in most cafes and Metro Manila malls, I must say that the technology is still far from perfect, but it is a functional alternative to looking for an internet cafe or subscribing to more expensive alternatives such as EVDO using a Merlin card, PLDT’s weRoam, or Globe’s Visibility. PLDT has mentioned that it would increase its bandwidth (again), but many users are more concerned about the quality of service as opposed to the ‘promised’ increase in speeds. What good would it do if the maximum speed is very high, but the service only delivers a tenth of it?
I tried out AirborneAccess over at the Shangri-la Mall last weekend and found it ran only 256kbps, relatively okay for athe average surfer and for checking up on mail. I wouldn’t be needing or taking call on Skype while checking my mail in the mall, but I might be needing to download a large attachment. Good thing my laptop batteries last around 3 hours, enough time for me to accomplish a few things even while moving around.
On the downside, I had to ‘repair’ my connection several times as it kept dropping. I could do ordinary online tasks such as connect to Yahoo Messsenger, but accessing some sites became difficult when the connection strength became low. If the conecern is just simple connectivity, the service would be sufficient. I managed to clean out a old mailbox, check my mail, and read a few comments on this blog before heading home.
My next stops will be a few in-mall cafes such as Starbucks in MegaMall, the Robinson’s Malls, and maybe a few areas that advertise WiFi Zone. I hope to build up a list that has paid and free WiFi Hotspots. Let me know if you’ve tried some places and what your experiences were.
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