Most smartphones include a built-in mobile hotspot that allows you to access the Internet while you’re on the go. Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (SMHS), also referred to as Wi-Fi Sharing or tethering, allows you to share your smartphone’s Internet connection with another device.

This technique works with most current Android and iOS phones and carriers, and using your phone as a hotspot can be more secure than using public WiFi. The usage is generally included in your monthly plan, but often only up to a specific limit. Using your phone as a hotspot can use your phone’s battery very quickly.

A phone hotspot can share Internet access with any WiFi-enabled device, including laptops, tablets, other phones, and even game consoles. Some mobile plans impose their own limitations on the number of devices that can connect simultaneously.