MiFi Data Plans

How Much Does The Mifi From Sprint Cost Upfront And To Subscribe For Service?

Both Sprint and Verizon charge $60/month for 5GB of data transfer. They don't charge an upfront activation fee, but you do have to sign a 2-yr contract to get the subsidized price.
You can find our full review of the Novatell Wireless MiFi 2200 at the following link.http://www.thetechstop.net/?page_id=3258
Peace,
Fr. Robert

MiFi Demonstration – The portable wireless hotspot

A demonstration of the Verizon MiFi - the portable wireless hotspot that uses the cellular network to create a WiFi bubble around the unit for up to 5 devices to share Internet access simultaneously. This handy little device is manufactured by Novatel and currently offered by Verizon and Sprint. MiFi is a great way to bring broadband with you on the move and share broadband with several devices. The device is either battery powered (about 4 hours of use), powered by a USB connection or the ...

Sprint vs. Verizon: Which MiFi provider is right for you?

Verizon Wireless MiFi Data Plans

Verizon Wireless was the first cellular company to offer data plans for the MiFi. Verizon currently has three plans available for consumers. The first plan is $59.99 per month and offers five GB of data throughput and additional five cents over each per megabyte is charged after the first five GB. This plan is well suited for users who download sizable amounts of multimedia such as video and music. It is also great for users who plan to use the vice at least 15 days out of the month.

The second plan which is a bit less expensive at $39.95 per month and offers 250 MB of data throughput but has a charge of $.10 per megabyte for after the first 250 MB. This plan is a good choice for business users who do not necessarily need a very large is amount of data useage or multimedia downloads, and plan to use the  MiFi for connecting to corporate networks and typical web browsing  activity. Although the $39.95 per month rate may seem like a decent bargain versus the $59.99 rate, this plan can be a disaster if the $.10 surcharge is regularly exceeded each month. You may end up spending way more than $60 even though you have not passed the five GB monthly download limit. Read more...

iPod Touch + MiFi Mobile Hotsot= “MiFiPod”, a Cool iPhone Alternative

For the North American market, the MiFi was introduced in early 2009 and was licensed for sale by Sprint and Verizon by Novatel.  The MiFi is simply a pocket sized mobile hotspot. Think of it as a roaming WiFi signal that can travel in your pocket. If you don't mind using WiFi at home or the office, imagine beging able to take the WiFi signal "with you".

Everyone loves the iPhone 3G and newer 3GS, but one of the cheif complaints  you hear from owners is the BIG (some say inflated) monthly bill from AT&T, not to mention the less then stellar 3G coverage from AT&T's already overworked and maxed out 3G network. People who want an iPhone have almost no alternative to going the "official" AT&T/Apple route.  As you know, the iPod touch is the little brother of the iPhone. It's 98% similar, with the obvious absense of a cell phone built in. The iPod touch can act pretty much the same as an iPhone when connected to a WiFi signal, but how can you make sure you ALWAYS have a WiFi signal? Keep a MiFi mobile hotspot within 30 feet of the iPod touch, that how. I have a feeling that AT&T does not want iPod touch owners to know about the MiFi mobile hotspot...

One very cool solution is this:

1) Couple the iPod Touch with an external microphone. The "stock" apple earbuds that come with the iPod have a tiny build-in Mic, which works perfect for the iPod Touch. 

2) Install the Skype app on your iPod touch. You can get a dedicated local area code phone number with unlimited calling for around $10 a month with Skype.

3) Buy a Sprint or Verizon MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot and subscribe to the data plan.

How does this work? Charge the MiFi and carry it in your pocket - it will be good for 4 hours, likely more than your iPod iteself. The iPod touch will communicate with the MiFi pocket router via its build it WiFi connection. The MiFi will relay your WiFi internet, voice, and SMS to your provicers 3G network. The Verizon MiFi data plan will allow you to make calls over Skype, for all practical purposes, having a true functional "cell phone". The best benefit comes to the cost savings: MiFi plans will cost around $75 per month ($60 monthly fee + about $15 in taxes and fees), while AT&T's average users  iPhone monthly bill is around $112 when taxes and extra fees are levied. The added "bonus" benefit is even cooler - up to four additional people around you within a 30 foot radius can connect to the web thru your MiFi (If you want them to of course!) and access the fast 3G Network over their own WiFi enabled mobile devices. It's a great choice for families - dad on his "MiFipod", and the kids connecting their PSP's and laptops to the web all though a single MiFi while on a long drive to Grandmas house.

The only real disadvantages are that voice calls have to be make thru an external microphone and that you will need to carry two devices. The MiFi itself is only 2 ounces and is about the size of 15 stacked credit cards - I would imagine that the prospects of saving up to 50% on the cost of you iPhone serivice plan AND getting better 3G service far outweights these issues.

A closer look at the MiFi’s 5GB monthly data cap

The recent rise in popularity of Novatel MiFi technology has people interested in getting their own subscriptions for wireless broadband internet. MiFi has made it possible for everyone from casual to hardcore internet users to connect to the internet from anywhere and at anytime, practically wherever a cellular signal is available.

Along with this instant popularity come a few questions. Is this mobile hotspot really that fast? Could this tiny, self-contained device really connect five devices to it all at once? And one of the most asked questions regarding this – just what exactly does that 5GB MiFi cap mean? Read more...

Can the MiFi Mobile Hotspot replace your wired broadband connection at home?

  A new debate arises after the recent release of a new generation of portable, multiuser internet access devices, such as the  MiFi Mobile Hotspot . Can wireless broadband technology upstage the tried and tested wired home broadband connections? Is the MiFi 3G device a feasible replacement for your home's wired cable modem, FIOS, or DSL connection?  

The MiFi is a mobile hotspot by Novatel which is being retailed by Verizon and Sprint along with their connection plans in the United States. It has a range radius of 30-40 ft. and has a battery life of four hours continuous usage or forty hours standby time and of course it doesn’t have any wires  (except if you want to use the plug in AC Adaptor charger).  It connects to your 3G provider and turns the 3G signal into a regular WiFi signal, all while on the go. The MiFi mobile hotspot is a clear winner outside of the home, so let compare "apples-to-apples" where we can in seeing who might benfit from a single univeral internet connection provided by the MiFi. 

Price: 

The data service plan for the MiFi Mobile hotspot range from $40 to $60 per month. Since you’re dealing with Sprint or Verizon, tack on another $15 in taxes and fees, so you are looking at around $75 per month. The two price tiers are for different data caps - in this case the $40 monthly rate allows for (only) 250 Megabytes of usage per month. Since the MiFi will we used as a primary home connection, I would not recommend this low-cap option. When comparing the $75 monthly fee, it’s important that you count in any possible recoverable fees you may be currently incurring. Assuming you have a "triple play" (voice, data, TV) wired broadband service, subtract the cost of what you are paying for the all-in-one service with the TV only subscription. The MiFi can utilize Skype or several other low cost or free VOIP providers to deliver voice and telephone service to you home. Generally you will find this price differential to be a wash, with the costs negating each other. On first appearance it may seem like the cost is the same, but then factor in any existing mobile data plans you have that the MiFi can replace, and you will see the MiFi as an effective cost savings. The MiFi's build in router may also present some potential saving of having to buy an existing wireless home router. 

Speed: 

 The MiFi will deliver around 5 Mbs download speed, but more realistically in dense urban areas, you may see around half that speed. Cable modems are generally 10 Mbs, while FIOS is around 25 Mbs. The speed winner on face value is clearly wired broadband. The caveat is that not everyone needs 10 mbs download speeds. Remember browsing in the web in the late 1990's with a 56K modem? For regular, everyday "web stuff" 56K is not too shabby - 5Mbs is about 8 times faster then 56K, and should be fast enough for downloading songs and watching videos. The MiFi Mobile Hotspot also has the added benefit of a managed 5 user router build in, so the fact that the fast connection can be shared is a bonus on top. 

 Suitability: 

 If you are a person who lives on the go and takes your connection where they go, the MiFi Mobile Hotspot may be a great alternative. After all, the MiFi device will always be "with you", and the "you", be it at home or on the road, will always be assured a fast connection. The MiFi is likely NOT going to be a realistic replacement for your home broadband if you have a need for the mobile and wired environments to coexist.  The ideal candidate for a MiFi-Only scenario would be a single person who does not need a dedicated wired home connection when they are on the road, but wants a high speed broadband connection wherever they are, be it home or abroad. Plug the MiFi into the wall adaptor and you have for all practical purposes the same setup as a cable modem and WiFi router. The MiFi-Only setup would not be a great choice for a family that needs on-the-go connectivity but has users or other family members at home the same time. The "MiFi as a Primary Home Connection" also would NOT be a feasible choice for those who mass download BitTorrent or Newsgroups, since the 5GB monthly cap would likely be exceeded. 

Conclusion: The MiFi was never intended or marketed as a full time replacement for a wired home broadband connection, however, in my opinion there is a fairly large demographic that I would call the "constantly connected single person" who could greatly benefit from a practical device that can provide both mobile and stationary broadband service for voice and internet at a substantial cost savings over traditional plans.