Verizon's MiFi: a Hotspot in Your Pocket

As I sit here watching reruns of 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' and glancing over the Wall Street Journal, an article under the Gadgets section of the June 10th Edition entitled, "Web Surfing in a Wireless Network of Your Very Own", caught my attention.

Verizon has a new product called the MiFi 2200 which allows up to five mobile devices to connect to the internet. The Author, Katherine Boehret states "it is a hot spot in your pocket!" In clearer terms, this device allows multiple users to connect through wireless, and gets rid of the need to pay for several wireless cards. It should be perfect for those groups of business executives all traveling together.

For $100 after rebate and with a 2-yr contract which includes plans between $40-$60 a month, you can assure yourself a MiFi of your own. Of course, if you are not interested in being locked into a 2-yr service agreement, you can also purchase the MiFi for full retail price of $400 and pay $15 per 24 hour period. This day service is called the Verizon Wirless Mobile Broadband DayPass.

This device weighs two ounces and runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which generally has a life of 40 hours in standby mode.