Ever wished you had WiFi internet access all to yourself instead of relying on coffee shops, or congested and slow airport and hotel WiFi service?
A recent product from Novatel called the MiFi puts the internet in your pocket, literally. This small device packs a powerful punch, delivering internet speeds comparable to a standard DSL line even at the park.
Currently, two US mobile phone companies offer the MiFi to customers. One is Sprint/Nextel, the other is Verizon.
We recently had an opportunity to use the Verizon MiFi device (pictured). About the size of 6 stacked credit cards, this small device connects to Verizon's data network and outputs a standard WiFi signal. It includes a browser interface to manage the wireless network and features include built-in firewall, port forwarding, custom SSID and password settings.
Armed with the device, you become your own mobile hotspot. The WiFi network supports up to five concurrently connected devices, meaning that you can simultaneously have internet access, for example, on a laptop, a digital camera, a netbook and a couple of iPod Touch devices. It even works with the iPhone, giving you access to Verizon's 3G network via WiFi instead of AT&T's data network.
Performance is impressive, offering average download speeds of about 1.5Mbps in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Waterloo. Data plans cost about $60/month, for up to 5GB of data transfer. That's sufficient for most uses, although if you use the device to download movies, music and YouTube videos, you might eat through that quota before the end of the month.
But so far, the 5GB limitation on Verizon data plans is the only negative we encountered. The device itself can be purchased for about $150 with a 2 year data plan. The built-in rechargable battery offers 30 hours of standby, and about 4 hours of actual internet usage between charges. Plug it into an outlet and you have WiFi while it charges back up, making it perfect for use in hotel rooms.
In general, the speed of the connection seems faster than shared hotel and airport standard WiFi, and the ability to stay in touch while on the move - from a train, the taxiway at O'Hare, or while riding shotgun on a road trip - makes this a must-have for the connected traveller. The kids will love it too, letting them surf the 'net from the back seat of your car on that next trip to Grandma's house.
Author: John