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!

If you can’t wait for the Samsung NC10 3G and don’t want the small keyboard of the Eee PC 901 Go then this might be one for you to keep an eye out for. Especially if you’re in Germany. The very popular 1000H (Windows XP, SATA 160GB drive, 1GB, 6-cell) is now available with 3G built-in. (HSDPA/HSUPA) At 503 Euros inclusive of tax, its not the cheapest netbook out there but its a lot cheaper than many other 3G notebook options. Just like the Samsung NC10, it’s got a good keyboard and excellent battery life meaning you’ll have no problems getting those PC-based jobs done when you’re away from the office. If you order today (Cyberport, Germany) it should be with you before Christmas. Sooo tempting!

More information, specification and links for the Eee PC 1000H here.

I missed this one a few days ago. UMPCFever are reporting that NeoSolar, the new owners of the Wibrain brand, will market a new version of the Wibrain with Atom, HSDPA and a makeover. Apparently the info appears on a Wibrain website.

The styling on the rendering that appears on UMPCFever’s article looks a lot better than the old version. I hope the back and sides get the same treatment! It would probably have to be a Menlow platform to fit into the Wibrain casing and it would depend on the clockrate as to how powerful it would be. Lets hope for 1.33Ghz and above where hyperthreading and the 533Mhz FSB kicks in. The existing Wibrain has a big, 30wh battery so if they achieve some efficiencies over and above the existing device, it could be a 4hr in-use device. They might solve the heat problems too as it certainly isn’t the coolest and quietest on the block.

We’ve been in contact with Wibrain but haven’t had any response yet. One of our reseller contacts might have some more info for us next week though. Stay tuned.

In other WIbrain news, apparently the 32GB SSD versions of the existing version are arriving in stock in Europe (and we assume in other territories) this week.

Oh by the way, if you’re wondering what the big black lollypop stick is all about, it is probably a 3G antenna for use in fringe areas. A great idea.

Someone should start a website that databases all the mobile Internet tariff’s because it’s getting very hard, even as a knowledgeable customer, to see what the latest deals are.

There are three types of deal in Europe that are common.

• Add-on packages to voice contracts.
• Pay as you go options
• SIM-only data contracts

Add-on packages tend to be the cheapest if all you need is mobile Internet on your handset. You can add a flat-rate proxied HTTP service for as little as 10-euro. In some countries the service isn’t even proxied and with 3UK I’ve found that it’s open-port access with very little restriction although reports of backbone overload seem to be appearing more and more with this network. This sort of service is ideal for a mobile phone and, if you use a fairly open smartphone, you can generally find an application suite that works over HTTP. Although the T&C’s disallow it, you can probably get away with short-term PC connectivity through the mobile phone. You just need to remember to configure the proxy settings in your browser and it works well. Be careful to use the correct APN though as it can cost a bomb if you get it wrong!

Pay-as-You-Go options vary between day-flat and per-MB costs. Day-flat is very useful if you’re away for a weekend at a conference or exhibition. 5 Euro per day usually nets you a full, open, business class Internet service. Per-MB pre-pay data rates with voice are down to $0.24 in Germany with the initial SIM card cost starting at around 7.50 with no contract.

SIM-only data contracts are the ones too look for if you need to add a SIM card to your ultra mobile PC or MID. I currently pay a fairly hefty 20-euro per month for a business-class (non-proxied, most ports open) 200MB per month on a 7.2mbps network from Vodafone but there are some new deals around that are better. This deal from virtual service provider MoobiAir is particularly interesting. You get a 6-month contract on the T-Mobile backbone in Germany (widely considered to be the best here) for just 34Euro per month. That’s un-proxied, no-limits, 7.2mbps Internet access.

There are other deals too and if I had time I’d love to create a list of the best deals in some of the bigger countries. U.S. Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Holland, France. If you can help me though by putting information in the comment here though i’ll probably be able to find time to collate it into a post for other readers. What deals are going on in your area?