Mushroom Networks announces new wireless "Broadband Bonding" technology

Mushroom Networks has been in the "broadband bonding" business for quite a while now, but we're guessing they're going to find a few more fans with their new wireless broadband gear, which promises the fastest cellular-based internet connection to date. Like the company's previous PortaBella device (pictured above, not exactly to scale), its new rig can combine up to four different cellular data cards into a single high-speed connection, but this one is fully portable (just over a pound) and, perhaps most importantly, it has an optional battery pack that'll let you be truly mobile with it. That, Mushroom says, makes the device ideal for a whole range of applications that can be a bit tricky with a single modem, like mobile TV broadcasting or temporary offices set up in a disaster area. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing just yet, but it doesn't exactly take much guesstimating to figure out that it's likely not the most cost-effective solution around.

[From My Cube @ Jun 30th 2009 3:50PM]

portabella....i see what you did there

[Christian @ Jun 30th 2009 3:52PM]

I dont

[ash chapman @ Jun 30th 2009 4:13PM]

Mushroom networks
PortaBella - Portable
Portobello mushroom
Cloud computing
Mushroom cloud
Mushroom networks' PortaBella blah blah blah

God, I hate mushrooms.

[181 @ Jun 30th 2009 4:21PM]

so what you are saying is Mushroom Networks created a portable doomsday device...

[ash chapman @ Jun 30th 2009 4:22PM]

181, it's not yet time.

(Yes)

[Bizam! @ Jun 30th 2009 4:36PM]

Mushroom Mushroom...SNAAKE...SNAAAKE.

[Jeremy @ Jun 30th 2009 4:02PM]

I think they need some complementary beta testers. Sign me up. =)

[be fearless @ Jun 30th 2009 4:03PM]

"it's a me Mario!" :p

[SewerShark @ Jun 30th 2009 4:27PM]

That'sa so nice!

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jun 30th 2009 4:03PM]

The monthly wireless bill would be insane!

[Hackettman @ Jun 30th 2009 4:09PM]

Thats what I thought of......

[xcrunk @ Jun 30th 2009 4:11PM]

Fat pipes are always a good.

Cellular carriers need come down off their high horses. Prices on cellular data plans are just insane.

[181 @ Jun 30th 2009 4:18PM]

fat pipes, clouds and mushrooms.

[SomeCanadian @ Jun 30th 2009 4:21PM]

Didn't some of those Justin.tv guys build and use something like this 2 years ago when they were doing live coverage of the first iPhone launch. As I recall they had a big problem with packet loss when more then 2 wireless modems were within a few inches of each other.

[russlar @ Jun 30th 2009 4:21PM]

mmm... mushrooms...

[Rajesh @ Jun 30th 2009 4:22PM]

20GB per month limit ?

[MG @ Jun 30th 2009 4:24PM]

That's not a new device. I tested that about 10 months ago. It's not the most functional of devices but it does aggregate HTTP traffic well enough. Everything else and you depend on a connection via their datacenter as I remember and I think they only have a DS3 there for all their customers to share.

[Harold Smith IV @ Jun 30th 2009 4:24PM]

We have a portabella and really love it. We rent the porcini (the other magic mushroom that makes this possible) from mushroom networks and it really is very reasonably priced compared to the other limited options out there. The only flaw is it needs UDP to do solid video streaming right now which is not possible for some reason with flash video streaming.

We get INCREDIBLE download speeds and file transfers but less than impressive upload speed via TCP. Its an issue that they are working on very hard. The biggest benefit to something like this is for tradeshows. Those bastards will rape you for $1,000 a day for a decent connection. We have bandwidth to spare on our own WiFi now, run skype, live broadcast, make sales, play videos etc etc while our competition spends more for internet in one day than we spend for 4 months.

[MG @ Jun 30th 2009 4:34PM]

Try to run a VPN over it...

Also, I recommend checking out the Truffle, also by Mushroom Networks if this device is interesting to you. It allows the use of Ethernet handoffs in combination with cellular signals.

Also, check out companies like Fatpipe and XRoads Networks as they are also in this game and Fatpipe in particular is much further along in developing their product.

Also, remember, all of these devices are basically linux PC's with complex IP tables running and a web interface. Not exactly good for anyplace mission critical.

[Jake @ Jun 30th 2009 4:28PM]

Cellular data services are multiplexed between the users in the sector. Therefore I don't see how it makes any difference if you're customer 1 of x, or if you're customers 1-4 of x+3.

-jp

[marky-b @ Jun 30th 2009 4:45PM]

one for each major US carrier? (both cdma and gsm)..

but i was curious.. is there such a solution like this for wifi, short of building a custom linux box of your own? my friend's appartment has 5 open wifi points within range, and it would be nice to harvest all of the connections and, y'know.. eventually take over the world, and what not.

in theory.

[Charlie @ Jun 30th 2009 5:45PM]

It makes a difference if the cell isn't overloaded. (and even if it is, assuming they try and provide each subscriber semi-equal service)

[dan2600 @ Jun 30th 2009 4:32PM]

yay! lets strain the crappy US cellular internet infrastructure even more.

How about these companies provide easy solutions to fix the US's crappy speeds first THEN introduce devices like this to the US market.

(I say this only because Mushroom Networks is a US based company so you euro people don't call me geocentric)

[Hansemannn @ Jun 30th 2009 6:04PM]

Forget those crappy USB Cell Modems, check out this german vendor Viprinet,
http://www.viprinet.com/en/products/multichannel-vpn-router
They have up to six builtin, hotswap modems.

I use the small Viprinet 300 router in my car with three 3G connections to be always hooked up to my home and i am able to stream live music and video from my home into the car's entertainment system.
Works like a charm.

regards
Gert

[cocoviper @ Jun 30th 2009 6:09PM]

Engadget- it is your duty to us as geeks to get 4 uncapped Wimax cards (like the one Gizmodo used in their uncapped wimax test) and what sort of bandwidth numbers you can pull down.

Might as well harass some DOCSIS 3.0 users by mocking their bandwidth wirelessly while you're at it.

[MB @ Jun 30th 2009 7:08PM]

This product is total Shitake

[Saltboy @ Jul 1st 2009 10:32AM]

This would be awesome for disaster recovery operations. As long as the cell tower survived, your team will have remote access to network resources.

[R @ Jul 1st 2009 9:27PM]

I'd rather just have a Wimax card.

[pdwag @ Oct 1st 2009 9:43PM]

I am looking at a unit from mushroom to combine 2 adsl lines here in NZ. The net here is SHIT and this is a tech black hole. what thoughts does anyone have?