Editing Wi-Fi hotspot (section)

==Types==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2012}}

===Free hotspots===
[[File:CHE — ZH — Zürich (public WiFi Hotspot) Mattes 2022-07-29.jpg|thumb|Public Wi-Fi hotspot in [[Zürich]]]]
According to statista.com, in the year 2022, there are approximately 550 million free Wi-Fi hotspots around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global public Wi-Fi hotspots 2016-2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/677108/global-public-wi-fi-hotspots/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=Statista}}</ref>
The [[National Security Agency|U.S. NSA]] warns against connecting to free public Wi-Fi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NSA Issues Guidance on Securing Wireless Devices in Public Settings |url=http://www.nsa.gov/Press-Room/News-Highlights/Article/Article/2711968/nsa-issues-guidance-on-securing-wireless-devices-in-public-settings/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=National Security Agency/Central Security Service |language=en-US}}</ref>

Free hotspots operate in two ways:
* Using an open public network is the easiest way to create a free hotspot. All that is needed is a Wi-Fi router. Similarly, when users of private wireless routers turn off their authentication requirements, opening their connection, intentionally or not, they permit [[Piggybacking (Internet access)|piggybacking]] (sharing) by anyone in range.<ref>Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi Networks. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0014-tips-using-public-wi-fi-networks</ref>
* Closed public networks use a HotSpot Management System to control access to hotspots. This software runs on the router itself or an external computer allowing operators to authorize only specific users to access the Internet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/open-vs-closed-network/21242|title=What is Open vs Closed Network|website=igi-global.com|access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref> Providers of such hotspots often associate the free access with a menu, membership, or purchase limit. Operators may also limit each user's available [[Bandwidth (computing)|bandwidth]] (upload and download speed) to ensure that everyone gets a good quality service. Often this is done through [[service-level agreement]]s.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

===Commercial hotspots===
A commercial hotspot may feature:
* A [[captive portal]] / login screen / splash page that users are redirected to for [[authentication]] and/or [[payment]]. The captive portal / splash page sometimes includes the [[social login]] buttons.
* A payment option using a [[credit card]], [[iPass Inc.|iPass]], [[PayPal]], or another payment service (voucher-based Wi-Fi)
* A [[Walled garden (technology)|walled garden]] feature that allows free access to certain sites
* [[Service-oriented provisioning]] to allow for improved revenue
* Data analytics and data capture tools, to analyze and export data from Wi-Fi clients

Many services provide payment services to hotspot providers, for a monthly fee or commission from the end-user income. For example, [[Amazingports]] can be used to set up hotspots that intend to offer both fee-based and free internet access, and [[ZoneCD]] is a [[Linux distribution]] that provides payment services for hotspot providers who wish to deploy their own service.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}

[[Roaming]] services are expanding among major hotspot service providers. With roaming service the users of a commercial provider can have access to other providers' hotspots, either free of charge or for extra fees, which users will usually be charged on an access-per-minute basis.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}

===Software hotspots===
{{Main|SoftAP}}
Many Wi-Fi adapters built into or easily added to consumer computers and mobile devices include the functionality to operate as private or mobile hotspots, sometimes referred to as "mi-fi".<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sprint.com/mifi|title=Mi-Fi|website=Sprint PCS}}</ref> The use of a private hotspot to enable other personal devices to access the [[Wide area network|WAN]] (usually but not always the [[Internet]]) is a form of [[bridging (networking)|bridging]], and known as tethering. Manufacturers and [[custom rom|firmware]] creators can enable this functionality in Wi-Fi devices on many Wi-Fi devices, depending upon the capabilities of the hardware, and most modern consumer operating systems, including [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Apple OS X]] 10.6 and later,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MN81gC_jRRYC&q=10.6+share+internet&pg=PA476|title=Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide |date=2010 |isbn=9780321658999 |access-date=29 June 2016|last=Langer |first=Maria |publisher=Peachpit Press}}</ref> [[Windows]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-set-up-a-mobile-hotspot-with-windows-10/|title=How to set up a mobile hotspot with Windows 10 |work=[[Greg Shultz]] |date=February 1, 2018 |access-date=29 June 2019}}</ref> and [[Linux]]{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}} include features to support this. Additionally wireless chipset manufacturers such as [[Atheros]], [[Broadcom]], [[Intel]] and others, may add the capability for certain Wi-Fi [[Network interface controller|NICs]], usually used in a client role, to also be used for hotspot purposes. However, some service providers, such as AT&T,<ref>{{cite web|website=AT&T Shop| title=Mobile Hotspots| url=http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/hotspots.html}}</ref> Sprint,<ref>{{cite web| website=Sprint Community: Plans| url=https://community.sprint.com/baw/community/buzzaboutwireless/plans/blog/2012/05/16/new-mobile-hotspot-plans-and-usage-notification-options| date=May 16, 2012| title=New Mobile Hotspot Plans and Usage Notification Options| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129042605/https://community.sprint.com/baw/community/buzzaboutwireless/plans/blog/2012/05/16/new-mobile-hotspot-plans-and-usage-notification-options| archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref> and T-Mobile<ref>{{cite web| website = Tethering FAQ| url = http://offers.t-mobile.com/tethering/admin/faq.jsp| title = Smartphone Mobile Hotspot| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129093527/http://offers.t-mobile.com/tethering/admin/faq.jsp| archive-date = 2014-11-29}}</ref> charge users for this service or prohibit and disconnect user connections if tethering is detected.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

Third-party software vendors offer applications to allow users to operate their own hotspot, whether to access the Internet when on the go, share an existing connection, or extend the range of another hotspot.

===Hotspot 2.0===
Hotspot 2.0, also known as HS2 and Wi-Fi Certified Passpoint,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://revolutionwifi.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/wi-fi-alliance-rebrands-hotspot-20-as.html |title=Wi-Fi Alliance Rebrands Hotspot 2.0 as Wi-Fi Certified Passpoint |last=vonNagy |first=Andrew |date=20 May 2012 |access-date=13 April 2012}}</ref> is an approach to public access Wi-Fi by the [[Wi-Fi Alliance]]. The idea is for mobile devices to automatically join a Wi-Fi subscriber service whenever the user enters a Hotspot 2.0 area, in order to provide better bandwidth and services-on-demand to end-users and relieve carrier infrastructure of some traffic.

Hotspot 2.0 is based on the [[IEEE 802.11u]] standard, which is a set of protocols published in 2011 to enable cellular-like roaming. If the device supports 802.11u and is subscribed to a Hotspot 2.0 service it will automatically connect and roam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk-wireless.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/hotspot-20.html |title=Hotspot 2.0 |date=10 January 2012 |access-date=13 April 2013 |last=Simkins |first=Rob}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwnp.com/hotspot-2-0-and-the-next-generation-hotspot |title=Hotspot 2.0 and the Next Generation Hotspot |last=Burton |first=Marcus |date=10 January 2012 |access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| website=Gigaom| title= Hotspot 2.0 inches its way into public Wi-Fi networks| author=Fitchard, Kevin| date=March 7, 2014 |url=https://gigaom.com/2014/03/07/hotspot-2-0-inches-its-way-into-public-wi-fi-networks/}}</ref>

====Supported devices====
* Apple mobile devices running [[iOS 7]] and up<ref>{{cite web|last=Brownlee |first=John |url=http://www.cultofmac.com/231599/ios-7-will-make-it-possible-to-roam-between-open-wi-fi-networks-without-your-data-ever-dropping/ |title=iOS 7 Will Make It Possible To Roam Between Open Wi-Fi Networks Without Your Data Ever Dropping |publisher=Cult of Mac |date=2013-06-12 |access-date=2013-09-16}}</ref>
* Some [[Samsung Galaxy]] smartphones<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/wi-fi-roaming-hotspot-2-0-and-next-generation-hotspot/ |title=Wi-Fi roaming: Hotspot 2.0 and Next Generation Hotspot |last=Branscombe |first=Mary |date=3 October 2012 |access-date=13 April 2013 |work=[[ZDNet]]}}</ref>
* [[Windows 10]] devices have full support for network discovery and connection.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/mt244297(v=vs.85).aspx |title=Hotspot 2.0 - Windows Hardware Dev |access-date=24 April 2016}}</ref>
* Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 lack network discovery, but support connecting to a network when the credentials are known.<ref name=":0" />