D-Link's adorable myPocket 3G router gets FCC approval

Announced last month, D-Link is entering the mobile 3G router space with a suspiciously MiFi-esque product dubbed "myPocket" that pushes up to 7.2Mbps worth of HSPA over a portable WiFi cloud. The device -- model number DIR-457 -- has just been blessed with FCC approval today, which is a particularly good thing considering that it offers North American 3G compatibility on the 850 and 1900MHz bands. D-Link is no stranger to the 3G router market -- it's been making them for several years, actually, but this would be the first model that looks pocketable (hence the name, we suppose). It's not shipping Stateside just yet, but between this and Novatel's offerings, AT&T's got to make a move at some point.

[WolfDV Posted Jan 13th 2010 7:31PM]

too slow for a new product... why not support HSPA+ speeds?

(peak downlink speeds up to 21 Mbps & peak uplink speeds up to 5.76 Mbps)

Until then, my Sierra MC8700 pcie internal card will have to do. (Network: Telus HSPA+ , Plan: unlimited data)

[catdogburger Posted Jan 13th 2010 7:46PM]

@WolfDV

How did you get unlimited data with Telus on 3G+?

[bolezhinkov Posted Jan 13th 2010 8:02PM]

@WolfDV

probably an old plan that has been kept since they stopped offering that . . . I know a few people who have sold their old student plans that had something like that included.

[Palomino Posted Jan 13th 2010 9:00PM]

@WolfDV "Too slow"?? You're either kidding or stupid man. ATT is JUST now getting 7.2 around, and tmobile doesn't support these bands. So where are you going to get 21+? maybe a few places in Canada, but not the majority.

[Banksta3 Posted Jan 13th 2010 9:20PM]

@WolfDV Why carry around 3g in your pocket when you can carry around 4g in your pocket?

[WolfDV Posted Jan 13th 2010 9:43PM]

@Palomino Telus and Bell in Canada have built a nice new HSPA+ network, and it can get up to 21+ anywhere you get a signal (aka a majority of Alberta). for example, at the park by my house this morning I was get 14mbps down.. which is pretty damn decent

also as for the plan .... connect 75 unlimited ... on hspa+.... no its not offered at all anymore, and also not normally on the hspa+ network either. the plan was created 2yrs ago on the older evdo network, however by getting a certain SOC added to your account you could for a limited time make it work on the hspa network It is very rare, and awesome.

[nicotejera Posted Jan 13th 2010 7:44PM]

You can tether a white iPhone 3G/3GS, place it screen facing down and you have the same thing... Actually with an Apple logo on it.

[Palomino Posted Jan 13th 2010 8:57PM]

@nicotejera I actually do exactly that right now, and it's NOT the same thing. The iPhone only connects to 1 device at a time when tethered, and this could connect to 5 or more like the MiFi- all without wires (I never tether with Bluetooth-it's far, far too slow).

[pbase Posted Jan 13th 2010 7:53PM]

Looks good.
But what will I do with all my dead sperm?

[thrash1256 Posted Jan 13th 2010 8:10PM]

@pbase Hahahahaha

[Tom Hale Posted Jan 13th 2010 8:49PM]

I'm confused about something - I thought that all cell phone companies limit you to 5Gb of data/month - did I misunderstand, or does this bypass that limit somehow?

[THJ Posted Jan 14th 2010 9:12AM]

@Tom Hale All domestic US carriers cap at 5GB afaik for new aircards, but legacy plans and overseas providers all have different rules.

[dmo580 Posted Jan 13th 2010 9:08PM]

So can someone help me out? How does this product work? You connect to it via WiFi and then it connects to your wireless 2G/3G data connection to go online?

I can already tether my N-Series like this. Why doesn't the iPhone work like this also? Or are we limited to 1 device at a time.

[ThePengwin Posted Jan 13th 2010 10:53PM]

@dmo580 You connect it to the 3g network and the router shares it out over WiFi

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:43AM]

@ThePengwin

So this item will be offered from cellular carriers?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2010 5:34PM]

@dmo580 Yeah, I can do this on my E71 for $10/mo over my voice and text plan. Works great with both iPod Touch and Macbook.

[andrewwg94 Posted Jan 13th 2010 10:46PM]

There's an app for that!
it's called MyWi from the cydia store. Let's me do just that, but in an even more portable package.

[derX Posted Jan 13th 2010 11:16PM]

I don't know how I feel about this. I think AT&T needs to improve its infrastructure for its phones before it starts the multiple connections at a time teethering devices. Due to this I hope and assume it's headed for Canada.

[THJ Posted Jan 14th 2010 9:10AM]

@derX Agreed- ATT is still playing catchup on the coasts, adding a 3G wifi router at this point would not help (as much as I would like one).

[Twix Posted Jan 14th 2010 7:03AM]

I'm waiting for a device which would let me put my 3G-SIM-Card inside. It would have a battery. So then after recharging I'd just through it in my backpack and have WLAN always with me.

When will we see devices like that?!?

[CF542 Posted Jan 14th 2010 9:19AM]

Adorable? Really? Interesting choice of words.

Verizon and Sprint have had MiFi for months.

[Chris Ziegler Posted Jan 14th 2010 12:17PM]

@CF542 I don't know, I think it's kind of cute. My Verizon MiFi is a staple of my productivity, but it's not as cute as this!

[rkflyer Posted Jan 14th 2010 7:04PM]

We already have a devices exactly like you mention in the UK, I have a 5gb monthly account with the Three network and the product is called mifi

[DinoC812 Posted Jan 15th 2010 1:25PM]

I don't think this concept is anything new. With any windows mobile device, you can install an app to use the phone as the router by connecting multiple devices via WiFi. And.. the great thing is if you have a UMTS network such as AT&T, you can have those WiFi Devices connected while talking on the phone. Very cool stuff.