What exactly is WiFi? Why does accessing the internet on my phone without WiFi cost me data while being on WiFi doesn’t?
In: Technology
There are two ways to get water: buy bottles (expensive), or drink from a drinking fountain (free). Both satisfy your thirst the same way, but drinking fountains are only in buildings, while you can take bottled water with you anywhere.
WiFi and “Data” are two ways to get access to Internet. One is expensive, another is cheap. WiFi is only available in buildings, Cellular data is available almost anywhere.
Bottles are expensive b/c you need to make them, ship them, have space to store and display them, etc. Drinking fountain is a lot cheaper since its almost zero maintenance once installed, and water bills are tiny, so most places offer them for free.
Both WiFi and Cellular data carry your internet “over the air” using radio waves. WiFi signal between your phone and router goes at most 30 feet (less if walls are in the way). Cellular signal can go several miles, so cell tower that sends and receives radio waves from your phone needs to be a lot more powerful and complicated than WiFi router.
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