What if you could experience the power of the Internet without driving around looking for Wi-Fi access from the local coffee shop, or having the expense and limitations of using cellular modems? What if you could eliminate those outrageously overpriced Wi-Fi fees from hotels and convention centers? Gone would be the days of paying ridiculous Internet fees for one of your employees to have Internet access at your trade show booth. What if you had a personal Wi-Fi cloud that followed you anywhere that your active lifestyle took you?
Believe it or not, such a device was introduced last week. Verizon Wireless launched the Mi-Fi 2200, made by Novatel. The Verizon MiFi 2000 is a credit card sized unit, which enables five Wi-Fi enabled devices to connect at the same time to the Internet at broadband speed. This personal Wi-Fi cloud can be shared between devices such as laptops, netbooks, iPhones, iTouches, gaming devices such as PSP’s and Nintendo DS’s and among other users.
Perfect for the road warrior, off-site sales meeting, and trade show booth or traveling with the family on that long road trip this summer. With MiFi you can gain Internet access where and when you need it. Whether that is sitting on the run way during the all too often delay, the taxi ride to the client meeting or enjoying the beach with the family.
“With projected growth rates of over 30% for Wi-Fi mobile phones, MiFi will be a great benefit to both business customers and consumers,” said Mike Lanman, chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “It gives customers the flexibility to transform their Wi-Fi enabled consumer electronics into Mobile Broadband devices and to choose how and when they need to connected at a price point that will match most budgets.”
The MiFi sells for about $100 with a $50 rebate. Customers can subscribe to a $40 monthly plan for 250 MB of data or a $60 monthly plan for 5GB of data. Alternatively, you can purchase the MiFi with on contract for roughly $270, with “day passes” available for $15. The battery is said to last about four hours before needing a recharge, but it can also be powered by your computer or run off of AC power.
Reports state that the connection is secure and password protected, extremely easy to use, and offers much more flexibility to share Internet connection with other users compared to a traditional wireless card that is tied to a specific computer.
Are you ready for the MiFi and your own personal computing cloud? Do you think this device will add value and cost savings to your organization? Are you going to order one before your next trade show? Is it worth the cost? Would it eliminate the typical arguments among siblings on your next family vacation? What other ways would you take advantage of this new device? How do you plan to use the MiFi?
Share with us your thoughts on this new technology and whether you plan to pick up one of these units in the near future.
