Samsung Monte S5620 WiFi hotspot in the real world
The Samsung Monte S5620 looked like a conventional touchscreen feature phone, but compatible bada software let it share its mobile data connection over Wi-Fi. That made this bada handset a pocket-sized backup router for nearby devices.
With suitable firmware and an Australian mobile-data plan, a tablet or laptop could join the phone’s secure Wi-Fi network and browse online. Calls and SMS remained on the SIM, while browsing and downloads shared its data allowance. The feature was useful for short sessions, not a replacement for fixed broadband.
Australians already had carrier USB modems, often called dongles, plus dedicated mobile broadband sticks. The Monte’s advantage was being already in a pocket; its disadvantages were a small battery, modest Wi-Fi range and dependence on the phone’s cellular signal.
| Choice | Monte S5620 hotspot | Dedicated mobile broadband stick |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Phone and SIM already carried | Separate USB device and SIM |
| Connection | Secure Wi-Fi network | USB connection, usually for one computer |
| Power | Compact battery for brief sessions | Longer endurance on many models |
| Strength | Calls, messages and backup internet together | Better sustained data and clearer plan options |
| Limitation | Firmware, coverage and battery checks | Extra hardware, cost and charging |
What the hotspot actually provides
Hotspot mode creates a private Wi-Fi network. After you choose a network name and password, nearby devices can join and use the Monte’s cellular connection. The phone passes its own mobile data along; it does not create a separate internet line.
That matters when a messaging app needs a better connection. The BlackBerry Messenger versus WhatsApp comparison from 2012 captures the era’s debate, but either chat client used little traffic beside video. A shared link could keep a conversation moving while the SIM handled calls and SMS.
Set up the connection without guesswork
Start with a full charge and back up the phone’s bada software. Samsung supplied some updates through its PC updater and others over the air, depending on the model and region. Install the relevant release first; an older build may not expose hotspot controls.
Enable mobile data, open the connectivity settings and choose the mobile hotspot or Wi-Fi sharing option. Give the network a clear name, set a WPA2 password and save it. If the option is missing or greyed out, the installed bada build or carrier profile may not support tethering.
Australian plans make the data limit decisive
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Hutchison offered different prepaid and contract options in this period. The SIM still needed usable mobile data, and tethering could consume a fair-use limit quickly. Prepaid credit was convenient for occasional use, but a contract user needed to check whether sharing was included or billed separately.
Regional conditions add another variable. Melbourne and Sydney generally offered more network choices than regional Western Australia, although performance could change between streets. An Indosat speed review from another Asian market reinforces the point: a network’s reputation does not guarantee a good shared session everywhere.
Battery, range and charging
The Monte’s compact battery is the main constraint. Sharing Wi-Fi keeps its radio, processor and mobile modem busy, so power drains even with the screen off. A wall socket or spare battery helps during longer sessions, and switching sharing off afterwards prevents an idle hotspot from consuming the charge.
Australian Type I plugs can be awkward to find beside a café table, while a compact power bank adds another item to a bag. Placement also matters: a handset under a metal desk may handle a call but provide weak Wi-Fi. The hotspot cannot improve the cellular reception it receives.
Compare the Monte with a carrier dongle
The Monte wins when communication and connectivity need to travel together. On a business trip, it avoids carrying a separate modem, charger and USB cable. If fixed broadband fails, the phone can still send an email, make a call and provide a brief online session for a laptop.
A dedicated stick usually remains better for sustained data, clearer status information and larger usage allowances. The Monte’s small screen also makes it awkward to manage several clients. Treat it as a useful fallback rather than a full home network.
Start with the jobs you need: a map, an email, a video call or a software update. The A/B testing discipline in email campaign results offers a useful analogy: test one specific claim against another instead of assuming every apparent improvement matters.
Run a controlled session where you would actually use it. Join one tablet, load a document and watch the mobile signal. Compare the result with a phone hotspot or carrier dongle, note the data used and check whether the battery lasted. For Australian buyers, also confirm carrier support, tethering terms, prepaid credit and access to a suitable bada update.
Put the shared connection to work
Treat the Samsung Monte S5620 as a compact emergency internet tool rather than a broadband replacement. Update the bada software, confirm that your carrier supports tethering and test the hotspot with one trusted device before relying on it during a busy day.
Try it during your next café break in Melbourne or Sydney, keep the SIM’s data limit in view, and switch Wi-Fi sharing off when the session ends. If you are heading into regional Western Australia, check coverage first. The Monte will still handle calls and messages as a capable everyday phone.