Avis revs up mobile wi-fi hotspots

Rent-a-car company Avis is rolling out portable wi-fi hotspots to give motorists broadband connectivity on the move.

Travellers can rent an 'Avis Connect' unit for $10.95 per day, with the first portable wi-fi devices now available at San Francisco International Airport.

The device provides Avis customers with a mobile wi-fi hotspot which can be accessed by any wi-fi-enabled device and does not require any special software or data cards to connect to the internet.

Taking a business trip any time soon?

Check out the user generated guide to airport internet access around the world, atlarge.com.

The roll-out will continue over the next few months to incorporate more US airports, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Seattle.

Avis customers will be reminded when they rent a wi-fi unit that the service is not to be used by the driver while operating the vehicle but only by passengers or when the vehicle is parked.

Wi-fi on the move has been in the news on this side of the pond too - all Heathrow Express trains have now been wi-fi enabled. See photos of the technology in action here.

Rail operator GNER completed the fit-out of all its trains with wi-fi broadband connectivity ahead of schedule last year and Virgin Trains is getting in on the connectivity act too after announcing a planned rollout of onboard wi-fi in all its carriages will be completed this year.