It’s definitely not the first time we’ve seen the Novatel MiFi, or even the second – but they can keep cranking these things out in all sorts of different flavors and we wouldn’t mind a bit. A few weeks back, we found out that Sprint would be getting a MiFi of their own sometime in the next 3 months, and this latest leak indicates that Verizon will be getting one as well. No date is mentioned – but with CTIA 09 but a night or two away, we’d wager that an announcement is looming.
Here’s the concept, if you’ve missed our past blabbers on it: It’s essentially a battery-operated, 3G-powered WiFi router. Push a button, bam – it’s now a WiFi hotspot, fueled by the 3G network of whatever carrier’s SIM you’ve got inside. No dealing with cables or flaky tethering apps. It’s a blogger’s dream toy. Both times we messed with the MiFi were in environments that are generally absolutely horrible for such evaluations (the GSM model on an overloaded network, and the CDMA model in the basement of a hotel) – yet it performed spectacularly each time.
A few things are still unclear (EVDO Rev.A? Did Verizon lower the carrier-adjustable 5 person cap?). We just landed in Vegas – if our assumptions are correct and a VZW-branded MiFi is lurking around Sin City, we’ll have a hands-on up as soon as possible.
[Via PhoneArena]
Is there any way to potentially turn the iPhone into one of these with an application written to do this?
Specifically, you’d be able to launch an application, and then your iphone is now a wireless router and can allow its edge/3g connection to be used by others.
To an extent. PDAnet has managed to do something along those lines – but it’s capped at 1 user, is somewhat flaky, and demolishes the battery. Unless you kill the screen brightness, it seems the iPhone dies at a rate faster than the USB cable can charge it.
Its been done on other platforms, however – but none of the solutions I’ve seen are anywhere as simple as this. This is power on and go; the closest I’ve seen to this is a WinMo application which only works on select phones and requires some hardcore configuration.
If anybody knows of dead-simple multi-user solutions on any mobile platform, let me know.
Purchased Verizon unit May 17, 2009 to add to my desktop and to link laptops and other peripherals via Wifi.
BEWARE: Unit DOES NOT work in dual mode. Use of USB connection DISSABLES Wifi functionality. They do not tell you this in the store or in the handbook.
Has limited range indoors – speed drops dramatically through walls and without direct line-of-sight. Do not use more than 30 ft.
Otherwise a great step in the right direction. Next generation should be better.