Mobile Internet use is increasing around the world, with people using a variety of different devices to go online. Along with laptops and netbook computers, people can now also use smartphones, tablets, e-reader, and mobile gaming consoles to access the Internet. However, while all of these devices generally come with the ability to connect to WiFi signals, only some offer true mobile connectivity. For people that use laptops and netbooks to access the Internet, USB modems are one of the most popular technologies used to go online. A USB modem is also commonly referred to as a surf stick (Fonic Surf Stick) , and looks much like a standard USB thumb drive that is used for data storage. Through simply plugging a surf stick into a standard USB connection and choosing your settings and password, most people with a mobile computer can access 3G and HSPA mobile networks.

A surf stick works through the basic use of mobile Internet and USB protocols, connecting the universal serial bus on a mobile computer to the mobile web through a wireless Internet provider. Wireless Internet services are available from a large number of Internet providers, many of whom also offer standard ADSL and fibre optic connections. While people that use smartphones and tablets to access the Internet have no need for a USB modem device, surf sticks are still widely used by laptop and netbook users all over the world. Access to the mobile Internet depends on many issues, including access to a modem and computer, a subscription to a wireless Internet provider, and the ability to access mobile signals through the air.

The mobile Internet is simply the name used to refer to Internet access that takes place through mobile devices. USB modems are one of the standard ways that people connect to the mobile Internet, and in some ways, surf stick style devices offer advantages over internal solutions. For example, a surf stick has the ability to easily connect to an external antenna device, which can make it easier to pick up signals in many locations. A surf stick may be available through either a pre-paid or post-paid plan, with contracts available from most large Internet service providers. While the speed of USB modems may not be as fast as land connections and data allowances may not be as large, surf sticks allow people to access the Internet from a range of different locations.