Using your real IP address while you browse and download from the internet on your Android phone and tablet means that there are probably some limitations placed on you. What these restrictions are will depend on where you are in the world. Some places like China, don't need a lot of discussion - you can't access much with a Chinese IP. Other places like Europe and North American still block sites, many related to torrents and media streaming or downloading. If your IP is the problem, whether sites be blocked by your ISP or by the foreign web servers, a foreign IP address on Android can unblock these sites.

VPN

Virtual private networks are known by quite a few names, including private VPN, anonymous surfing software, and encryption software. One of the features of VPN software is that they change your IP. They can change your IP to any country, so long as there is a VPN server there that you have access to. How do you get access to the VPN server? Through a VPN service.

VPN Services

These services are available online, and to connect to a VPN server with your Android device, you don't need any hardware. Your android comes ready to connect. You need the specific software download provided by the VPN service, which will depend on the version of Android you have and the brand of VPN service you choose. You'll also need the login credentials which will be provided after you sign up. With these you can sign into one or more of the servers on their network. Some places require that you choose one country location, while others will give you full access to their network. Some services have a smaller network of 10 or more servers in a few countries, while others have huge networks of hundreds of servers spread all across the world. VPN interfaces and prices will vary as well.

Unblocking Sites

After signing up for a VPN service, for privacy and efficiency, you may want to clear you browser history and cache, making it seem like your first time using your browser. Connect to the VPN before you start up your browser. Choose a VPN server in the country you want an IP from. If you want a UK IP to access British websites, choose a server location in The UK. If you are in The Netherlands where the Pirate Bay has been blocked, you can choose any country that doesn't block this site for access. For privacy, you may want to choose a server in The Cayman Islands, Switzerland, or Canada because they have very strict privacy laws (protecting YOU) for internet users.

VPN Protocols

For an Android device, PPTP VPN will give you a fast VPN connection. It'll change your IP with minimal need for bandwidth. L2TP is more heavily encrypted version of the VPN and better for privacy, but requires more bandwidth to run. If you have a slow internet connection, you may experience some lag. Both will change your IP address, it's only the type of VPN tunneling and encryption that will vary. Some services give you access to both so you can experiment with them and see what works best.