The signals that allow you to connect to the internet run through cables, but they can also be transmitted across the air, sort of like radio waves. There are two different ways to access those signals from your phone: mobile internet and Wi-Fi.

Mobile internet is powered by your phone service provider and relies on cell phone towers to work. If you have a signal to make a phone call, you’ll also be able to connect to the internet with mobile internet. 

When you use data, you don’t need a router or a Wi-Fi connection. You can access movies, games, email, the web, and more on your phone as long as you’re in the coverage area.

When you access the internet this way, you will have to pay a fee for airtime, a concept you’ll learn about in the next section.

Wi-Fi is another way to access the radio signals that carry the internet. To use Wi-Fi, your phone will connect to a device called a wireless router. The internet signal provided by a specific router is called a wireless network (Wi-Fi network). When you use Wi-Fi, you won’t be charged for data.

It’s easy to connect to Wi-Fi. Go to your Settings menu for a list of available networks. Then select the network from the list, and enter the password, if required.

If you use a specific Wi-Fi network often, you can set up your phone to automatically connect any time you’re nearby. For example, if your local bar or café has a Wi-Fi network that it offers to guests, you can have your phone recognize that network so you don’t have to set it up every time you visit.