We have wireless routers, hotspots, national and international broadband, and now we have the MiFi! The Verizon MiFi 2200 has catapulted 2009 as the year where computer users will experience a whole new convenience with the Internet. This little contraption is the size of a credit card and instantly give you a wireless hotspot wherever you are. All you have to do is power it on and you can connect up to 5 devices, including: Macs, PCs, iPhones, Blackberries, and other systems that may use WiFi (wireless).
Essentially, the MiFi 2200 acts as a wireless router by providing 5 connections, and it doubles as a modem or broadband
connection by passing along an Internet connection. The best advantage of this network device is that you don’t have to physically connect it like you would a broadband card. It is a stand-alone device that may be connected to by simply finding its network, punching it the encrypted password found on the back of it, and voila, you’re on the Internet. No software or advanced tech support experience is needed.
This pocketable device is truly wireless. When you connect to it, there are absolutely no wires or power cables. It has up to 4 hours usage for 1 device and 40 hours standby. It takes 2.5 hours to charge the device by power outlet or 8 hours to charge via USB cable. The only downfall is this device has not fully reached today’s wireless potential since it only provides wireless G speeds and not the faster wireless N speed we have today.
After a $50 rebate, you pay $99.99 for the equipment and may pay either $39.99/month for 250MB or $59.99/month for
5GB. Or you may pay $269.99 for the equipment and just pay $15 for “day passes.”
Overall, the MiFi 2200 gets 2 thumbs up for innovation, portability, and meeting our overall wireless demands. It can, however, be improved upon by increasing its speed to wireless N and increasing its battery usage.