Knowing which proxy type fits your needs the best is key to successfully concealing your identity and accomplishing otherwise unattainable tasks. Although 4G mobile proxies are not the most popular type, they have quite a few applications. In this article, we will answer when you should use them.
Defining mobile proxies
Proxies can route your internet connection while concealing your IP address and displaying a different geo-location. For example, when you load a website with a browser, instead of sending the request directly to the web server you can use a proxy to show different IP address and location.
It is common to categorize proxies in terms of the origin of the IP address, and that’s where mobile proxies stand out. Some proxies use home devices and connections affiliated with ordinary internet service providers. Others use commercial-tier internet plans and are hosted on specialized servers. The first type is called residential, and the second one is datacener.
Mobile proxies are run on portable devices (most commonly smartphones and tablets) and use only a mobile internet connection provided by the mobile network operator. Such a setup ensures that mobile proxies can be regarded as a separate type of proxy, distinct from residential and datacenter.
Even if you use an ordinary computer, the last device sending the request will be mobile. So, websites you visit using a mobile proxy will see you as a visitor from a mobile device, which is useful for accessing content or services that otherwise would be unavailable from a computer.
Mobile internet access ensures a reliable way to hide your identity. It is easier to blend in with a larger crowd, and the number of internet users with mobile devices is quickly growing. In addition, mobile IP addresses are in constant rotation as the traffic on a cell tower might fluctuate.
There are differences between various generations of mobile proxies. 3G and 2G mobile proxies are slower, while 5G ones should get more prevalent only in a couple of years. 4G mobile proxies are the most common, as 4G networks have the best infrastructure. Proxies based on 4G technology are both well-performing and reliable.
The benefits of mobile proxies
Due to their unique setup, mobile proxies have advantages that are typical only to them. Residential or datacenter proxies might have some of these benefits too, but only 4G mobile proxies can pack the whole combination under one service. Here are the most significant benefits of mobile proxies.
High level of privacy
Hiding your identity is one of the main reasons to use proxies, and while all types can achieve this on some level, mobile proxies are superior for blending in. There are two main reasons for this. Network carriers rotate mobile IPs, and most traffic on the internet is coming from mobile connections these days.
Fewer blocks and CAPTCHA’s
Websites actively restricting suspicious activity tend to use CAPTCHA tests and IP address blocks. With 4G mobile proxies, you can avoid this hassle because a connection from a mobile device is harder to track and less frequently used to run bots or other software deemed suspicious by web servers.
Geo-targeting capabilities
Mobile proxies have a wide choice of locations, and good providers will allow you to choose a mobile carrier to increase the chances of accessing the content you need. Compared to other types of proxies, such as datacenter, they can have better location accuracy too. Geo-restrictions are no obstacle for mobile proxies.
Mobile fingerprint
Fingerprinting is a novel online tracking method that uses your device and browser specifications. A common way to avoid this threat is to make it look like you are using a mobile device. However, your IP address has to match the device type, so mobile proxies are crucial.
When should you use mobile proxies?
Web Scraping
Collecting large amounts of data online is a time-consuming but beneficial task. Many businesses and individuals collect data for market research, equity analysis, lead generation, machine learning, and others. Web scraping optimizes this task by allowing bots to load web pages and extract data automatically.
While the data is freely available, many websites guard it by banning scraping bots, implementing geo-restrictions, or moving data to mobile apps. 4G mobile proxies are the best solution to these challenges because they can handle a lot of data and will allow you to appear as connecting from a mobile device.
Managing multiple social media accounts
Most businesses and marketers access multiple social media accounts on a daily basis. Unfortunately, social media platforms often treat it as a violation of their rules and might ban users who access more than a few accounts. Any ordinary task on social media becomes a risk that can be avoided only with proxies.
Residential or datacenter proxies aren’t fit for this task as some social media platforms (i.e. Instagram) are not accessible from a personal computer. Special software and well-performing mobile proxies are needed to manage multiple accounts and avoid bans or other restrictions.
Ad verification
You don’t get many guarantees when purchasing online ads. It is hard to control how they will be displayed and whether the clicks you pay for are genuine. Mobile proxies allow you to use ad verification software and ensure your advertisements are displayed properly on the internet, including mobile versions of websites.
Mass buying
Online retailers limit the number of goods one visitor can purchase. Changing your IP address is the only way to bypass this restriction and buy before the goods are out of stock. Many vendors list different items and prices on mobile versions of their websites. So you will need mobile proxies to access them.
Conclusion
Mobile proxies can be used for almost any task where a proxy server is needed. They are best for ensuring privacy, social media automation, and some cases of web scraping. All these usage scenarios may require you to have a mobile IP address to get access or blend in with the crowd better.
