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GSMA Agrees With Us and Gives the MiFi an Award.


Clearly the GSMA have been looking for guidance on what to choose as a top mobile gadget at MWC, saw that we had awarded Mobile Accesory of the Year to Novatel’s MiFi and followed suit by giving their own little award for Best Connected Device (Non-handset)

Or maybe they checked it out and realised it was a damn fine bit of kit on their own.

Either way, Novatel just picked up another award for the MiFi from the GSMA

SAN DIEGO ­ Feb. 22, 2010 ­ Novatel Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL), a leading
provider of wireless broadband solutions, is pleased to announce that its
MiFi  Intelligent Mobile Hotspot has won the GSMA Global Mobile Award for
Best Mobile Connected Device (non-handset). The GSMA Global Mobile Awards is
the mobile industry¹s leading annual award presentation that honors
excellence and innovation in the mobile communications industry worldwide.

Full press release.

Well done Novatel. Keep that Mifi-love flowing. Our wish-list is below:

  • 10 hours battery life (Bigger battery version?)
  • USB charging without becoming a USB device
  • Easier to understand indicator lights. (After nearly a year, I still don’t understand them!)
  • Less heat
  • Faster cold boot
  • Firmware upgrade for existing owners to enable GPS and applications support.

The MiFi 2352 (HSDPA version) saved our bacon quite a few times at MWC. It was the hotel WiFi, our live podcast feed and we used it countless times around the site and at events with a cheap, 35 Euro flat rate SIM card from Vodafone ES. I even used it for advertising. I set my SSID as ‘Chippy and Carrypad are here’ and people actually found me because of it too.

It goes without saying that we thoroughly recommend it and if you’re interested in the HSDPA version, it’s available through our friends at Mobilx for just 214 Euro inclusive of EU taxes. Trust us, it’s worth it! (Affiliate link.)

Next-Gen Mifi Firmware Includes GPS and Apps. Demo Video.


As promised at CES, Novatel are moving forward with their plans for the Mifi 3G personal mobile internet hotspot (that has been a life-saver for me at MWC) to include applications and software features. We spoke to the team at the Mifi booth at MWC a few days ago and got a nice demo of a GPS-enabled application. GPS is enabled in the next firmware but I’m getting the impression that it’s going to be a new model of the Mifi with slightly newer features which ‘might’ include, USB charging without becoming a device, better battery life and of course, the GPS. I’m hoping that the firmware comes to existing Mifi’s (or at least the ones with the application processor in them) to enable the GPS that’s already included in the unit.

In the video below, Gareth Davis talks about some of the things possible and demonstrates a nice GPS-enabled application served through the Mifi webserver itself.

We have also heard that the EyeFi (Wifi-enabled SD card) application is progressing and we’ll be sure to keep a close eye on it.  Clearly a web-based navigation service would be possible and there’s a ton of things that can be done with social networking. Can anyone think of other interesting apps that could be created on this platform?(Apart from the obvious ‘free wifi’ password-inspection app that would be sure to pick up some interesting information if you left it for a few hours in a press conference!)

MiFi 2352 (European) Round-up Review


mifi1 I could easily round-up the coverage of the European-focused MiFi 2352 by saying ‘buy one’ but that would be too easy. There ARE some things you need to think about before you take the plunge and buy one so here’s my final tests and thoughts on the MiFi 2352 personal 3G hotspot for European GSM and UMTS networks.

Announcement: JKKMobile and UMPCPortal will be available on the live page tomorrow (Wednesday 24th June) at 2100 CEST (Berlin) demonstrating the Mifi 2352 and answering questions.

Update: Live session videos are available now.

Also read:

Size

The device is easily pocketable, bag-able and even window-shelf-able. The Wifi range lets you put the device wherever it’s needed for the best 3G reception. Size-wise, you need not give it a second thought. Build quality is good although you might want to keep it in a little bag to avoid the ports getting dirty.

IMG_9766 IMG_9764 IMG_9757

IMG_9758 IMG_9755 IMG_9756
More images in the Mifi Gallery.

Software

The software comes in three parts. The 3G software, the router and the web server. Each has it’s own little software stack and everything appears to work very smoothly together. Starting the device up is simple. Configuring the device is simple. Using it with multiple SIM cards is simple and sharing files from an SD card is simple. The file sharing function is limited to simple web-based downloads and uploads but we get the feeling that 3rd-party software, hacks or even official firmware upgrades could enhance this. At this point I’d like to point you to Slashgear who have also tested the Mifi 2352 and have a good set of images of the user interface.

Wifi sharing without 3G

This is the easiest way I’ve found yet to enable keyboard sharing between multiple devices. Of course, one of the devices needs to have an internet connection (or use the 3G on the MiFi) if you need internet access but it’s a great way to set up a mini network in the home, car or while on holiday.

Battery life

I hooked up my desktop, a UMPC, a netbook and my N82 mobile phone to the MiFi and hit it hard with continuous music streaming, two IM clients and my normal web-based working process which included browsing and a big set of image uploads. The result, a warm MiFi that lasted 3.5 hours. I’m quite impressed. In normal use I would expect 4hrs out of the device and as there’s a few easy ways to recharge the device (and the possibility of cheap spare batteries I feel sure that Novatel are using a pattern battery that you’ll find in another device) I have no problem with the battery life. And another thing, I barely noticed any difference on my desktop. At HSPA speeds and with normal activities, the Mifi is as good as a cable internet connection.

Heat

As mentioned, the device gets warm but nothing you need to worry about. The Wifi has a good range (one concrete wall or about 20-30m in the open) which means you don’t need the device too close to the clients.

Speedtests

See my previous post. I don’t see the Mifi being the fastest but it’s stable and has excellent reception. A stable, lower speed connection is often far more useful than a spotty high-speed one. HSPA is supported and we’ve seen 2.1mbps download and 1.2mbps uploads.

mifi_download_speeds mifi_upload_speeds

Price

If you’ve got a USB 3G stick and one computing device, you’ve got a tough choice today. 220 Euros is the same cost as an iPod Touch and you won’t be increasing your mobile internet capability by much at all. It certainly doesnt take much effort to plug a 3G USB modem in! If you’ve got multiple Wifi devices though, the MiFi starts to get interesting. You will be able to enable your own personal wifi hotspot and thus mobilise your wifi devices. The Mifi will save battery life (close-range wifi is often more efficient than a USB modem), and increase your security by giving you a private channel to the internet. If you’ve already got 3G devices, the MiFi can save you money and give you flexibility. In Germany and many other European countries, pay-as-you-go flat rate daily or monthly tariffs are common and by choosing one and sharing it between your devices, you can control your costs.

Issues

  • I would have liked to have seen the possibility to attach an external antenna to the MiFi for edge-of-cell use or even a permanent installation as a broadband modem.
  • Charging in use. By connecting the USB cable to a PC, you initiate the USB modem mode of the Wifi. To charge the MiFi while in mobile hotspot mode you need to either plug the device into mains via the supplied adaptor, use a power-bank with a USB output or make a cable modification. It would be nice to be able to disable the USB modem mode through software.
  • There is a surprising amount of heat generated considering the device is only using 1.5w of power under maximum load. This may be a consideration if you want to keep this in a pocket.
  • Indicators. I find the indicators confusing. There are no fewer than 14 combinations of colours and steady/flashing status indicators. It’s worth learning the combinations but it shouldn’t be this hard cnsidering the space available on the device.
  • Popularity is going to become an issue. Sharing a single connection with multiple devices means more devices per cell which effectively means more data on the same number of connections. Backhaul bandwidth (from the cell tower to the data center) is already an issue and major bottleneck. If the Mifi becomes popular for Wifi device owners (iPods, PMPs etc) then expect more congestion. This is another reason to be using pay-as-you-go services so that you can hop onto the best service providers network at very little cost.

Future products

Expect Huawei to come out with a competing device soon and expect to see these devices popping up all over the place on the city high-street. Also expect carriers to be offering the devices for free with contract lock-ins or even to enable ring-fenced TV or music services so yes, if you wait, you might find a good deal with your favorite provider but 24 months is a long time in mobile internet. 24 months ago, the prices were double and the bandwidths half of what they are today. In my opinion it’s better to buy a MiFi without commitment now and start enjoying the benefit.

Summary.

The Mifi is a groundbreaking product for anyone interested in mobile internet and there are very few issues to consider. It has the potential to save you money, increase your security and turn hotspot-bound device into mobile ones. It’s a shame that the battery life doesn’t last a full days activities but this is about as good as it gets from today’s technology. If you’ haven’t just bought a 3G USB stick, take a close look at the MiFi, the extra cost might save you money in the long run and simplify your mobile internet life.

We bought the Mifi from Mobilx.EU in Hungary who are an affiliate of ours and also pay for advertising on UMPCPortal. There are no affiliate links in this article and the article has been written without any external review or influence. We encourage you to visit the links shown at the top of this article for reviews and information from other websites and to view the live, recorded review and Q&A session. [Details here after 24th June]

MiFi 2352 Now Available SIM Free and with SDHC Slot.


KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

Update: We bought one. Here’s what we think.

The MiFi is my tip for Ultra Mobile Product of the Year. Cutting across Wifi hotspots, 3G dongles and multiple carrier contracts or pre-paid SIM cards in one go, the MiFi is simply a must-have if you’re an Ultra Mobile type of person.

Mobilx have announced availability and final pricing.

220 Euros (inclusive of European sales taxes) buys you a HSPA-capable device with the specifications shown below. First devices are expected to be available in the third week of June 2009.

We’ll be getting one for testing very soon now. Hopefully it will be in my postbox when I get back from Computex.

Mobilx MiFi 2352. (aff link)

Specifications:

Access HSPA (7.2 Mbps download and 5.76 Mbps upload) mobile broadband networks with the world’s first Intelligent Mobile Hotspot
Operates virtually anywhere in the world with multiple frequency band operation in HSPA, UMTS, EDGE, and GPRS† providing high speed mobile Internet access.

Connect up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices
Allows up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices to simultaneously connect to the Internet.

Easily fits in the palm of your hand
Sleek and tiny, MiFi is perfect for on-the-go connectivity.

NovaSpeed capable
Enhances performance of video, online gaming, simultaneous uploads and downloads, and large file transfers with minimal interruptions or buffering.

Integrated high-capacity microSDHCTM slot
Provides expandable storage capacity of up to 16GB, allowing access from all connected devices over Wi-Fi.

GPS-enabled for location-based services

SIM Unlocked!

Technology/Bands

  • Tri-band HSUPA/HSDPA – 900/1900/2100 MHz
  • Quad-band GPRS/EDGE – 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
  • A-GPS and gpsOneXTRAâ„¢ support
  • Receiver equalisation
  • Receiver diversity

Antenna

  • Integrated diversity antenna
  • Integrated WiFi antenna
  • Integrated GPS antenna

Software and Applications (optional)(USB Tethered Mode)

  • MobiLinkâ„¢ 3 Connection Manager
  • Built-in address book
  • SMS client

Data Speeds

  • HSDPA Up to 7.2 Mbps downlink
  • HSUPA Up to 5.76 Mbps uplink

LED Indicators (2)

  • Multi-colour status indicator
  • Wi-Fi indicator

Operating system

  • Windows 2000, XP, Vista,
  • Mac OS X 10.4 or later
  • Linux

Standard Package Contents

  • MiFi 2352
  • Quick Start Guide
  • USB Cable
  • Li-ion battery
  • A/C mains charger

Dimensions:

  • 62mm x 98mm x 15.3mm

WLAN

  • 802.11b/g 2.4 GHz
  • Pre-configurable security (WEP/WPA/WPA2)
  • DHCP server
  • NAT/NAPT
  • DNS support
  • VPN pass-through

Standards/Approvals/Certifications

  • 3GPP Release 99 for WDCMA
  • 3GPP Release 5 for HSDPA
  • 3GPP Release 6 for HSUPA
  • FCC parts 2, 15, 22 & 24
  • CE Marking
  • GCF
  • PTCRB
  • GSM Phase 2+
  • Microsoft WHQL
  • Wi-Fi Alliance
  • R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC (health, safety, EMC, spectrum) Compliant
  • RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC Compliant
  • WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC Compliant
  • A-Tick
  • ICASA
  • Industry Canada

Battery

  • Removable Li-ion battery

Interfaces

  • microUSB port
  • microSDHC slot
  • SIM socket 1.8V and 3.0V standard USIM
  • SIM Unlocked!

Sprint Will Also Offer MiFi. HSDPA Version With Telefonica.


mifi_full Following the much-blogged, much twittered news of Verizon launching their MiFi product last week, it’s now Sprint’s turn. There doesn’t seem to be a day plan, only a $60 5GB plan and a bundle which includes a phone. Availability is ‘June’. More details here.

It’s no secret that Telefonica have already announced the Mifi 2352 HSPA version in Spain (under the Movistar brand) and I’m hearing ‘days’ rather than ‘weeks’ for availability which means I’ll probably be able to get hold of an unlocked version for testing. Can’t wait!

movistar_es_novatel_mifi_2352“Among the key attributes of MiFi 2352 is an on-board Linux based operating system capable of delivering mobile software applications and media. These advanced capabilities add to the intelligence of MiFi and will enable future support for applications such as automatic VPN connectivity and automatic email synch. The combination of internal (ROM) storage, up to 16 GB of expandable memory via MicroSD and on-board GPS capabilities make MiFi 2352 a flexible and robust platform capable of supporting a variety of location-based applications and enabling the storage of personal content such as music, video and pictures. inch [Source]

The MiFi is clearly going to be a very popular product this year so excuse me if I don’t report on every carrier deal across the world!

MiFi. Must-Have Mobile Internet Gateway Launches on Verizon.


Prediction: The MiFi will be mobile gadget of the year for many many people. With it’s ability to bundle 5 non-3G devices via Wifi over one 3G connection, its tiny size, reasonable battery life, USB charging/use, built-in web server and very easy operation, it really adds a lot of value to the kit bag and puts a stop to multi-contract situations like this. Sure, built-in 3G can be better quality and the fact that it’s another gadget to carry may annoy some but the advantages, especially if you already have Wifi devices that you want to mobilise, make this one desirable mobile gadget. Which is why we gave it the Best of CeBIT 09 award at MeetMobility.

mifi-verizon

I’m not sure how carriers are going to like it though. On one hand you gain some customers but on the other hand you risk losing contracts as they become shared which is probably why Verizon are launching it with very expensive data rates. $15 for a day pass. $40 per month for 250MB and $60 per month for 5GB although the following per-MB cost is only 5c which isn’t bad) Cost (we assume with the plans) is $150 but there’s a $50 mail-in rebate.

In Europe, you’ll get a much better deal. The Mifi will launch through third party resellers at an estimated 200 Euros but it will be unlocked and will allow you to slot your own providers SIM in giving you the choice of the best deals. In many countries you can get 30 days of 3G on a pay as you go plan for under 20 Euros. A day pass, under 2 Euro.

There’s no doubt that the MiFi will sell like hotcakes and is likely to affect the sales of 3G USB dongles. Also expect to see every coffee shop, bar and supermarket dropping these in place which could kill the European paid-for hotspot model overnight. T-Mobile Germany will have a lot of calculating to do on this one. Increased data per 3G channel, shared 3G contracts and loss of Wifi hotspot revenues could be significant. On the other hand, T-Mobile have a chance to put these out for free with a captive server inside that promotes their own content. Free 3G, paid-for TV, opt-in ad injections? It could be a few years before they work out a successful model but i’m sure you’ll see these being given away to households as a content gateway. Is the Mifi the future set top box?

One thing to watch out for though rogue hotspots. The Mifi has a server inside which I assume is going to be hacked very soon. Public-data farming is going to happen very quickly with these battery powered gadgets around. First targets tech expo’s.

Verizon’s MiFi will be available on May 17th.

We’re expecting to have final EU pricing and an HSDPA version for review very soon. In the meantime, you can check out a video we made when we tested the Mifi at CeBIT 09. Also check out a glowing report from the New York Times.

MiFi. Handheld mobile 3G router from Novatel coming in 2009.


mifi We’ve been waiting for this ever since we got a whisper from a reseller that it was being developed and the reason is that it could be a significant product for many carriers and a great product for mobile computing types.  The Mifi handheld 3G router is battery powered and allows you to connect to a mobile 3G connection and then share that out via WiFi.

The press release has some interesting content. Take this for example: “an intelligent, open platform capable of hosting advanced software applications and flexible enough to address the continued evolution of mobile broadband.”  According to our sources, that means it will be able to host landing pages, implement filtering and even tailored solutions like per-mac bandwidth capping. If Nortel have though about this they will have provided the ability for business users to implement simple charging via a gateway.

If well controlled, it will be a great new product for carriers but if it’s sold unlocked with an open SIM slot, there could be all sorts of problems for carriers. Loading an unlimited 3G connection with 10’s of users is going to be a killer for the already loaded 3G backhauls.

The built in battery is good for four hours of use and it’s scheduled for release in Q1 2009.

Press release

Via JKOnTheRun

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