Coffee Break- Bubbling with the MiFi
You knew that as soon as I got the Verizon MiFi in my hot little hands that I had to head out to take it on the road. There is a Target Superstore two blocks from my house with a Starbucks (sort of) inside, so here I sit. It’s a good test for the MiFi as there’s no Wi-Fi available, other than my own personal Wi-Fi bubble provided by the MiFi. In this photo I have the Viliv S5 and the iPhone 3G connected to my own Wi-Fi hotspot. This thing absolutely rocks for ease of use.
Viliv S5 UMPC, Verizon MiFi 2200
Soooo jealous. If that MiFi had a SIM card slot, I’d be all over it.
Novatel has a GSM version.
A GSM Version? Sweet Where, how much? I didn’t see it on ther’re website
I don’t believe it’s out yet.
Here you go…
http://www.intomobile.com/2009/01/19/gsm-version-of-novatels-mifi-gets-an-fcc-approval.html
It was approved by FCC in Jan.
Should be here soon.
How much is the msrp? I would like to see more pricing info on the tools and services you use, and pricing plays a factor in our buying manager’s decision and expense justification process.
Verizon is quoting $99.99 after a $50 rebate with a new 2-year contract. They have not quoted a price without the contract to me yet.
How about up and down speed compared to it’s USB counterparts.
It has been the same for me all day today.
Does it have a “quota meter” to warn you when you hit your 5 GB limit each month?
The Verizon Access Manager program will track your usage if desired. There is no way to track it if using via WiFi as the Access Manager program is not invoked. I believe you can track it via Verizon Online though.
That setup looks, pardon the word, uber-geek. You know you could replace all that gear with a single 13″ notebook with built-in WWAN, be just as productive, and not need a bag to carry it in either.
Maybe we should compare both work styles James for benefits/negatives?
While I sort-of agree and would take a one-piece over the kit-and-kaboodle (I’d love me an S5 nevertheless), I think this comment comes up in each post in which JK shows off his S5 and BT keyboard
Yes it does come up every time. This session was a test of the MiFi and nothing more. But, I would never get integrated WWAN because I use so many devices. That’s why the MiFi is outstanding for me.
Hi James,
Mind if I ask how hot your S5 gets when you’re online? I just received mine, and when online, the screen actually gets really hot. Never really had a laptop screen feel that way…
The whole unit seems to get pretty warm now I that I’m holding it.
Also, I’ve been using a diNovo Mini with it and find it’s much better than the onscreen kb, though not quite as efficient as a Stowaway due to thumb-typing.
Thanks!
Good to know there’s a GSM version coming out – not sure how I missed that.
The $99 price isn’t bad, even with a contract. It’s that $60/mo plan that’s killing these mobile broadband solutions. I’ll keep my MEdiaNet plan and just tether, for that.
Wait- I know we’re all talking about the GSM version now, but what’s this one? I thought Verizon’s fastest data network was 3g, so what’s the point of connecting your iPhone 3g to a 3g-powered wifi network?
But the product is really smart and cool.
If you get no signal from AT&T for the iPhone, you can tap into the MiFi Wi-Fi for 3G loving anyway.