Gather Tags: Innovation, Computer, Internet, Blog, Digital, Mi-Fi, Wireless, Verizon, 802.11
Vendor Link: Mi-Fi
Image from Verizon: Verizon WirelessMiFi™2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot
I purchased a few months ago a great wireless device called a "Mi-Fi". This device has to be the best one I have in my bag of technology tricks. It is a game changer for the gadget minded, and long over-due in my mind for the mobile computing landscape.
The full name of my device is the Verizon WirelessMiFi™2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, which is battery powered (up to about 4 hours of use time), and enables you to connect up to 5 devices to the Internet wirelessly (using 802.11g). It works just like your home wireless router, except that you can take it with you wherever you go. Sprint has a similar device, and AT&T is coming out with one soon.
Here is the setup I usually roll with when I travel:
John's Travelling Computing Platform(s):
iPad, iPhone, MacBookPro, HP dv7 & Dell 630 (not pictured)
I do travel a lot across North America, so it is important (to me) to have Internet connectivity. I have done it all - adopted early dial-up services, moved to wireless hot spots for connectivity, and later I was completely addicted to wireless broadband cards. With USB as an established connectivity point, the USB based broadband connection modems were very easy to use and setup. The only problem with all of these devices and services was that they only enabled the device you had connected to - to access the Internet. Sure, you could enable some Wireless Ad-Hoc Access Point technology on your laptop and share the single-point connection to your other devices, I used to configure my MacBookPro to do just that (in my opinion - Apple has this done very well - easy to setup and secure). But do you really want to lug around another laptop to just share out your USB Wireless Broadband? I think not (well... I do, but well... hehe).
To get connected, each device simply connects to the Mi-Fi like your home wireless 802.11g access point (if you have security enabled). Select the SSID of the Mi-Fi device and enter the password, and Voila! You are connected to the Internet! There is really nothing more to it than that. The SSID and Password is printed on a sticky label attached to the underside of the device. You can leave it, or take it off and store it somewhere safe. Since the device is always with me, I decided to leave the sticker on for easy reference.
The device is secure as well. It uses WPA-PSK as its security, which is definitely secure enough for someone on the go.
I also shut off the data plan for my iPad, and reduce the data plan on my iPhone to the el-cheapo - saving me some extra monthly charges. Those two items alone are off-setting the cost of the Mi-Fi by at least 50%.
Another plus of this Mi-Fi device is (more related to the vendor - Verizon) International travel. I recently went to Canada - International connectivity is always a hassle (or too expensive!) and I brought the Verizon Mi-Fi with me. I brought my regular computing infrastructure with me (see picture above). It was relatively cheap and very easy to enable International roaming (at $127 US/Month) for 5 GB/Month usage in North America (includes 100MB outside of the US and Canada). No minimum contract lenght is required, and you can turn it off when you want. You do need to be mindful as to when you turn off the International roaming, so that you don't switch the plan back too early, as your International usage is pro-rated. While in Canada and in "roaming mode" the green top "power" button light on the Mi-Fi turns bright blue.
With respect to the limits on data - I have yet to even come close to 5GB/Month. I consider myself a power user and have only hit about 4GB/Month with streaming video and websurfing. I don't traditionally watch a full-length feature movie over Mi-Fi, but it does have enough connectivity to do it. The current plan I have is for the continental United States for 5GB/Month at $59.99 a month.
I think the device is also perfect for the family that vacations together. When out at a campsite or traveling down the Interstate, Dad's (or Mom's) Mi-Fi has the whole family covered. Consider hitting the shore house (or cabin) for a weekend or a week - without Internet (or just trying to share 1 dedicated connection) the family peace is limited. Kids fighting over who gets to go on the computer - competing with Dad/Mom who needs it to check in at the office is an explosive mix. The Mi-Fi device solves that problem with one data plan.
John's Mi-Fi:
It's small too! There are 5 credit cards stacked next to it.
It is battery powered, however I do use it a lot with the power connected to it. There seems to be no impact to the battery life with it being on the charger. So you can definitely use the device all day without impacting its performance. It's small too. It is about the side of 10 stacked credit cards.
Another great feature is the tethering of the Mi-Fi device to a computer. You can plug in the device via USB and use the VZAccess software provided by Verizon to connect through the device to the Internet. Sharing is then disabled on the device, and you have a dedicated USB based broadband connection via your laptop or desktop. Sometimes it is nice to dedicate the connection instead of sharing it out.
I would give this device a full 5 out of 5 stars, as it really hits the mark.
Look for the DROID2 from Motorola to have this Mi-Fi built into it - it is already available, and may be a better option for some that need to update their phone. The overall cost of the DRIOD2 is a little more than what I wanted (~ $130/month), the Verizon WirelessMiFi™2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot fits the bill for what I need at about half the cost.
If you need good mobile Internet connection, for more than 1 device, the Verizon WirelessMiFi™2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is the piece of technology you need!
