My good friend and tech guru Kneal sent me a work-around for the jobsite WiFi issue I discussed yesterday. If you have a smart phone, you probably don’t pay the expensive extra charge ($20/mo) to use the phone as a WiFi hotspot. I know I don’t.

I use my laptop anywhere I have phone service by utilizing the PDAnet Android app that tethers the phone to the laptop and gives internet service. That works great for me on vacation or anytime I’m away from free Wifi.

Unfortunately, tablet computers don’t have the USB port to tether the phone to the tablet. Kneal told me about FoxFi, which allows most Android phones to become a wireless hotspot without paying the outlandish phone company fees.

So I downloaded the FoxFi app from the Play Store, but it doesn’t support my stupid HTC phone. Though the app does support most other phones. So hopefully you can benefit from this tidbit.

By the way, the free version of FoxFi gives you 10 to 30 minutes of WiFi, then forces you to reconnect. They really give it to you just to make sure it works on your phone. If it does, then pay the $8 one time charge for the app and get the full version. Sprint and AT&T block you from downloading FoxFi from the Play store, so go directly to the FoxFi.com website from your phone’s internet browser. You can easily load it onto your phone from there.

As an aside, if you’re in the market for an Android phone, avoid HTC. I have the Rezound and it drops calls daily and has poor battery life (even with the extended battery). I’m still a big Verizon fan, but will soon trash my HTC and go with another phone. Any suggestions?