By far my favorite, and easily the most differentiating feature of the new Verizon iPhone 4, is the personal hotspot feature. It's smart, and like most everything else on the iPhone, simple to use. I primarily used it via Wi-Fi, but I could just have easily tethered it to my laptop via USB or connected over Bluetooth. The more I tested the personal hotspot, the more I thought about the many ways I could use it. Here are my top five suggestions:
1. For a More Productive Commute
Here's how my evening commute usually goes. I hop on the train, open my laptop, insert my Verizon EVDO USB modem in one of the available USB ports, use VZ Access Manager to log-in, then fire up the VPN to access corporate mail. With the Verizon iPhone, I have an always-ready personal hotspot. I just have to turn on the hotspot (under Settings), note the SSID (which is based on the name I gave the phone), then enter the provided security code into my laptop Wi-Fi manager. Boom. I'm online and back to work in seconds.
2. To Work With Others
The Verizon iPhone offers up to five hotspot connections. That's enough to, say, provide wireless access for five of my co-workers at a tradeshow event or in a hotel room. In exchange for this I will demand that someone bring nachos.
3. To Keep the Family Happy
You know those interminable car rides where the "Guess What I'm Thinking" game has gotten old and everyone has gone through their iPod playlist at least twice? The Verizon iPhone personal hotspot might offer some unexpected relief. Turn it on, and every mobile device in the car, from your kids iPods, iPads, and other Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled gadgets, to your spouse's laptop, can be hooked up to the hub (as long as you don't need more than five connections at once).
4. To Help Your Fellow Man
While the Verizon iPhone will happily create a hard-to-guess hotspot password for you, you could make a dead-simple one (12345, anyone?) and share your network in a public place. Then take the phone, head to the park, and watch as people join your network (and vie for that last, open position).
5. To Help AT&T Customers Make Contact (and Make a Quick Buck while You're at It?)
AT&T is a good, fast network, but it still can't match Verizon when it comes to coverage, especially in, say, a rail tunnel. Here in New York, our major commuter tunnels are, for the most part, AT&T dead zones. With the Verizon iPhone hotspot, you can offer connectivity to five lucky commuters. But remember, since Verizon is charging you an extra $20 a month there is a 2GB data cap, you might want to charge those AT&T customers a premium.