Novatel MiFi proves "3G hotspot" and "sexy" can coexist

Our EV-DO ExpressCards are looking a whole lot frumpier (and less functional) today now that Novatel's shown off this hot little metallic number, the "MiFi" mobile 3G hotspot for getting high-speed data to you and your closest friends on the go. Routing your choice of EV-DO Rev. A or HSPA over WiFi, the slab is about as wide and long as a credit card -- goodness -- and features an internal battery that'll allegedly be good for four hours of use or forty hours of standby on one charge. The MiFi is scheduled to blast off in the first half of 2009 for roughly $200 through carriers and retail channels, which means we can finally look forward to ditching our N78 with Joikuspot and a couple hundred dollars worth of spare batteries.

[Macca @ Dec 9th 2008 8:07AM]

Got to admit, that is very aesthetically appealing. Hopefully the functionality will match.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Dec 9th 2008 12:39PM]

Best part is I won't have to solder an EVDO card inside my macbook air!

[nismo334 @ Dec 9th 2008 1:18PM]

Testies, You actually bought a Macbook Air? I'm a huge mac fanboy, but that laptop is stupid. I can get an msi wind or Eee for a quarter the price and with the same functionality. Oh, and you can hack OS X to run on them, sorry but the air is just WAY over priced for what it delivers.

[MadMike @ Dec 9th 2008 8:08AM]

Wait, something just came to me... I had a Psychic vision... Ready? Not through AT&T! Yep! Better off hacking a phone with the $15 Media Net Unlimited package.

[Vianon @ Dec 9th 2008 8:12AM]

Sexy in the title and no gadget babes in the post? This is disappointing...

[Flashpoint @ Dec 9th 2008 8:18AM]

I hate these add-ons.
I hope HP and SONY (possibly even Apple) decide to start offering their laptops with a CDMA or 3G device built into the computer itself because it would be so much easier to deal with instead of having dongles and adapters.
Fortunately, most major PC manufacturers have already started doing that with WiFi

[Tonicboy @ Dec 9th 2008 9:13AM]

Except that built-in antennas restrict you to one device and, unless you can get tethering working. With this portable hotspot, your laptop, wi-fi enabled cellphone, friend's laptop or whatever, can all get online at once. and oh btw, there is no dongle, no wires. this solution is battery powered (with ac option i would hope) so it can stay in your bag or pocket or wherever.

[Ninsei @ Dec 9th 2008 9:21AM]

I hate these notebooks with built-in 3G modems. Do I really have to buy another unlimited data plan for my notebook/netbook apart from one that I have in my mobile phone? I want to be able to easily tether phone and use it as 3g modem (or hotspot) for my notebook.
(in fact that's what I'm doing with my P1i and MacBook, but this Novatel thingy could be useful at home).

[Stuart @ Dec 9th 2008 8:40AM]

Clearpoint already has a portable 3G router but this seems to have the 3g modem built-iin instead of additional. I wonder if it has GOBI so that one device can truly be used for EDVO and HSPA

[ste @ Dec 9th 2008 9:01AM]

and you wouldn't just buy a normal (cheap) 3g modem and use your laptop to create an ad-hoc wireless network because??????

[mattkenny @ Dec 9th 2008 9:14AM]

@ste: because not every device with WiFi is a laptop.

[Tonicboy @ Dec 9th 2008 9:19AM]

Because you don't always have your laptop, duh! Not only that, but with this solution you can 3G-enable any wi-fi device, whether it be your cellphone or PMP or iPod Touch or whatever. With a pocketable solution (i.e. not your laptop).

[Brad @ Dec 9th 2008 9:21AM]

Pity it's made by Novatel... would be nice to see a quality unit like this from Sierra Wireless or some other decent 3G manufacturer.

[Adam @ Dec 9th 2008 9:23AM]

Sexy Hot G Spot?

[Rick @ Dec 9th 2008 9:38AM]

Damn, where did I put those nail clippers?

[PDubNYC @ Dec 9th 2008 10:08AM]

that's a chick, Shecky

[MattyG @ Dec 9th 2008 9:50AM]

GIMMIE!

couple this with a N810 and I'll be set :D

[Jash Sayani @ Dec 9th 2008 10:32AM]

Wow! It looks amazing and would be one of the most useful gadgets for travelers like me.... Any rough idea on the cost....?

[iben @ Dec 9th 2008 10:44AM]

Yess! I was dreaming about such a device for a time now, but there wasn't any, or? However, it's quite obvious: this could supply my iPhone 2G, my laptop and collegues'/friends' laptops/devices with 3G internet at the same time, or just the devices even without a computer. Great!

I want it now!

[MikeWard1701 @ Dec 9th 2008 11:03AM]

This is essentially a wireless femtocell?

[Manny Fleurmond @ Dec 9th 2008 1:22PM]

Actually, this is reverse femtocell.. celltofem, as it were. Coverting a 3G wireless signal to WiFi. I love it. You can use all sorts of stuff with this: laptops, PMD's, MID's, netbooks, etc. So awesome.

[Ethan @ Dec 9th 2008 11:05AM]

I think this, or similar products will be very popular with macbook air users.

[ilh @ Dec 9th 2008 12:32PM]

Does this look "sexy" just because it's a rectangle with rounded corners or what? There's nothing to it at all apart from a power switch and logo.

Big credit card or small hands too...

[hittek @ Dec 9th 2008 2:36PM]

Meh.. I can do the same thing with my iPhone 3G and NetShare

[jordan @ Dec 9th 2008 3:07PM]

need to come out with wi-max version...then it would be even better yet.

[gzarroli @ Dec 10th 2008 9:01AM]

http://www.walkinghotspot.com

[Marc @ Dec 12th 2008 10:35PM]

Surely, some US carrier will castrate this poor device (either with restrictive limits and/or penalizing charges) or simply regard it as demonic by design, as it clearly provides a means for several persons/devices to suck their precious bandwidth...all at once. Hopefully, some balance can be found...I can dream, can't I?

[linuxamp @ Dec 13th 2008 4:26AM]

This thing runs Linux baby yea!
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7093705543.html

[B4pilot @ Dec 29th 2008 11:13AM]

The HTC Touch Diamond Pro phone works great as an EVDO->WiFi router using the WMWiFiRouter software. It does everything the MiFi does, plus full-feature touch-screen phone.