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A WiFi Hotspot in Your Pocket

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted May 9, 2009 11:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – Verizon’s newest wireless gadget, the MiFi—a portable WiFi hotspot—has a big fan in David Pogue of the New York Times. The MiFi is a combination of a cellular modem without the “nasty little antenna protuberance” and a wireless router. Anywhere on Verizon’s 3G network, one touch of a button a device the size of a credit card allows up to five people to surf at broadband speeds.

The MiFi also has a rechargeable battery, and a standby mode that can get the average person through a whole day of intermittent surfing. It works just like a regular router and is totally configurable, yet fits in a pocket. Pogue was stuck on a runway happily surfing away when his stunned seatmate asked how he had a signal. “He was floored,” Pogue writes, “when I pulled the MiFi from my pocket, its power light glowing evilly.”

The Verizon-branded MiFi.
The Verizon-branded MiFi.   (AP Photo)
Novatel's MiFi, a 3G Wi-Fi router.
Novatel's MiFi, a 3G Wi-Fi router.   (AP Photo)
A Verizon store in New York.
A Verizon store in New York.   (AP Photo)
Executives test wireless signals in Baltimore.
Executives test wireless signals in Baltimore.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
kokuaguy
May 10, 2009 8:13 AM CDT
And the cost?
Rob
May 10, 2009 4:41 AM CDT
There is no evidence what so ever for any of this. Pure stuff and nonsense.
drlarrymitchell
May 9, 2009 7:36 AM CDT
I'm waiting for wet-wired brain-stem usb port capability.

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