The one single biggest negative about buying the MiFi without a contract is that you will not receive the carriers customer subsidy, so you can expect to pay around $200 more (around $270 total). Given the fact the the monthly data access plan for the MiFi costs around $60, that cost can be offset in hust over 3 months.

The development of WiFi over the past 10 years or so has been one of the biggest breakthroughs in internet technology. For any place with WiFi, anyone can connect with the internet through their laptops after just a few easy clicks. Not only does this maximize connectivity for personal and professional use both at home and in public locations, but it also shows how great the developments are becoming in internet technology. As great as WiFi may be,  the number of locations WITHOUT WiFi signals withing range still to this day greatly outnumbers those with.  Flash forward to 2009 - there has to be a way to offer WiFi connection WHEREVER you may be. Right?

The solution to universal WiFi coverage is the Novatel MiFi, the latest in wireless internet connectivity.

Novatel has developed the MiFi so that anyone can take their high-speed wireless internet connection with them wherever they go. It’s now termed an “Intelligent Mobile Hotspot,” and from its early reviews, it sure seems to be hot among the WiFi crowd. Everyone is calling it the next big thing, and with specifications which make so many new things possible for both users and developers, the possibilities with this technology are endless.

The MiFi device is a small and sleek one, which is just about the size of a credit card –  it is, however, a bit fatter than that. It also only has one switch, to turn it on or off. That simple and that small a device, and yet its development is a huge leap in mobile broadband technology. Such a compact piece of equipment, if one were to maximize its use, would be very powerful. It allows connections for up to five of your or your friends’ devices at once to access the internet over a single wireless 3G account.

Once it’s turned on, it creates a 30 foot (10 meter) radius where anyone can connect to the internet with their laptops, cameras, or other devices which could benefit from it. And with a battery life of four hours of usage and forty hours of standby, it also packs quite a charge for those long bus rides and family trips. Imagine being able to finish all your business reports, your online games, or your book report – perhaps even all at once – on the trip to grandma. That’s high-speed connectivity at its most convenient.

So what does the Novatel MiFi have over regular WiFi? Well, aside from being able to take the high-speed wireless connection that you enjoy with you anywhere, the mobile hotspot also pushes the speed limit to 3G speeds. Compared to other portable broadband connections, this speed is much, much faster than everything that has been currently developed up to this date. Also, a portable 3G wireless connection opens the possibilities for developers to create more mobile applications which require high-speed connections, since you’ll have this connection with you at all times. Uploading and downloading pictures you’ve taken right away from your camera would be something very possible and hassle-free with Novatel MiFi, when before you’d have to wait to get home first to do so.

Novatel has really developed something very important with MiFi. It’s a cool thing, being able to connect to the internet wherever you are and at whatever time. However, this technology is a sign of just how far connectivity has come. From smoke signals, we’re now able to bring high-speed internet connections wherever we are.

MiFi Summary and Technical Overview:

* Dimensions are 3.50"x 2.32" x 0.35" Weight: 2.05 oz.

* Brushed aluminum finish for the Sprint Version, Black Gloss/Matte for Verizon

* Provides Mobile broadband "Rev A" Internet access wirelessly

* Supports up to five separate WiFi-enabled devices at one time.

* Plug and Play - Simple to connect with Hands-Free Activation ; No software installation required for Sprint; Version Requires management software

* Universal Wi-Fi compatibility - virtually any WiFi enabled device, new or old, can connect to the internet thru the MiFi

* Build in Advanced security, supporting WPA2-PSK, WEP and SPI Firewall

* The Sprint branded MiFi has GPS capabilities to take advantage of select location and mapping applications, such as getting driving or walking directions or finding the best restaurant nearby.

* Battery provides four hours of user time, 40 hours standby on single charge

* Third party addon's avaiable for the MiFi include external battery packs and Wireless Range Extenders.