For most travellers it’s important to be able to stay connected overseas on their mobile devices and Globalgig has come up with a way that’s handy and inexpensive.
Globalgig combines a small wi-fi hotspot with a SIM card that can work in Australia, the US and the UK with more countries to follow.
The advantage of that for frequent travellers is that you don’t have to change the SIM card every time you land in a different country.
In Australia Globalgig uses the Optus network, Sprint in the US and 3 in the UK.
Tech Guide reviewed the device and the service while in the US for the recent Consumer Electronics Show.
The Globalgig hotspot itself is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and, of course, can easily fit inside a pocket or a bag.
Once connected to the network, it’s possible to connect up to five devices – smartphones, tablets and laptop – at once to share the connection.
For our use in the US we connected two smartphones, a tablet and a laptop computer.
Once you arrive at your destination it takes a couple of minutes to connect to the network before users can connect their devices to Globalgig and start using data.
Using data through your own SIM card on your smartphone or tablet can result in a huge bill when you get back which is why it is a good idea to make other arrangements like Globalgig.
Globalgig is just for data so it won’t allow for calls and texts but by providing the user with a data connection they can make use of various connections and apps for calls and messaging on their devices.
For example, the data connection from the Globalgig can allow for Skype and Viber calls as well as iMessages and FaceTime calls on Apple devices.
For our use in the US, the device worked very well with only intermittent periods when we were unable to connect because of poor reception.
The Globalgig device itself lasted up to about 4 hours before it needed a recharge.
For our purposes where we were out most of the day and we had it on the whole time to be able to send and receive messages as well as upload stories and images to the Tech Guide website.
When we knew we had reliable wi-fi coverage we turned the Globalgig off to conserve battery.
And because it’s so small we were able to place the device either in our pocket or in our bag.
One downside of the device was how hot it got. It was quite warm to touch even through the pocket of our coat and pants.
Another difficulty was trying to read the device’s 2G and 3G and battery indicators in bright light.
And for those wanting a 4G connection – you won’t be getting it with Globalgig but we found 3G to be fast enough for our purposes.
But overall the Globalgig lived up to its promise of keeping us connected.
The Globalgig device itself costs $129 and comes with a SIM card so then all you have to do is choose from one of three monthly plans with no lock-in contracts.
They are $25 (1GB), $39 (2GB) and $49 (5GB). These are reasonably priced and provide plenty of data for all types of users from casual browsers to hard-core users.
The Globalgig is perfect for frequent travellers who want to easily manage their data usage costs while travelling without the hassle of having to sniff out deals and constantly changing SIM cards to do it.
Globalgig
Price: $129 plus plan
Related Stories
Turn your smartphone into a wi-fi hotspot
