Coming Home to FiOS

As we have become more reliant on apps and web-based services for both work and entertainment, we are learning to be more discerning about the networks that deliver those services. This is particularly true when we are on-the-move, with access to networks outside of our trusted home and office environments.

The whole issue of the relative strengths of networks was brought home to me on a recent trip to California. Over 7 days, I had the dubious pleasure of connecting to third-party networks at a variety of locations, including airports, on the airplane itself, a hotel, a friend’s house, and more than a few restaurants and coffee shops.

There are two things that I want from a network – security and speed – and, sadly, it seems harder than ever to find public networks that can deliver on both. Security is an increasingly important issue. There was a time when an open network in a café or restaurant would have been fine, but with online banking and sensitive e-mail traffic, an unsecured network is no longer an option.

Airports and hotels remain the biggest mystery when it comes to providing efficient and affordable Internet access. Most airports still make you go through a tortuous registration and payment process only to dump you out of the network at what feels like five minute intervals. And the more expensive the hotel, the more likely you have to pay through the nose for a service that hasn’t been updated in the last five years.

Even my friend seemed trapped in the dark ages with her home-based DSL network. Coverage was spotty and speeds were slow; so slow that she was often tempted to “borrow” her neighbor’s network to speed things up a little! My dream of going to bed early to watch a movie on my iPad remained just that – a dream. Download speeds were so slow I never even got to the credits, just a warning telling me I needed to switch to a faster network!

Which brings me to FiOS. As a FiOS customer, I know I’m spoilt, but it was surprising to see just how far ahead of the competition it has become. With blazingly fast upload and download speeds, a well-earned reputation for reliability, and affordable pricing, FiOS is leaving every other Internet option in the rear view mirror.

I love to travel, but I also love to come home. These days, Verizon FiOS is one of the biggest reasons!

The Online Mom, LLC receives a fee for participating in certain promotional campaigns for FiOS. All opinions are my own.