A hotspot is a venue that offers Wi-Fi access. The public can use a laptop (notebook), Wi-Fi Phone, or other suitable portable device to access the Internet. Of the estimated 150 million notebooks, 14 million PDAs, and other emerging Wi-Fi devices sold per year for the last few years, most include the Wi-Fi feature.

For venues that have broadband service, offering wireless access is as simple as purchasing one AP and connecting the AP with the gateway box.

Hotspots are often found at restaurants, train stations, airports, libraries, coffee shops, bookstores, fuelstations, department stores, supermarkets and other public places. Many universities and schoolls have wireless networks in their campus.