Novatel prepping WiMAX-based MiFi, signs up for Qualcomm's Wearable Mobile Device modules
By Paul Miller 
posted February 25th 2010 1:11PM
posted February 25th 2010 1:11PM
We haven't been shy about expressing our undying love for the MiFi, and now Novatel is playing catchup with the Sierra Wireless-built Sprint Overdrive and bringing WiMAX into the fold. Novatel has completed and tested a WiMAX MiFi prototype, achieving 18Mbps throughput in testing. The unit relies on a Beceem WiMAX chip and has 30Mbps down / 10Mbps up theoretical speeds. No word on when the 4G MiFi might actually hit the market, but Novatel can't be content for long to let Sierra eat that ever-widening WiMAX lunch all by itself. Meanwhile, Novatel has also picked up Qualcomm's Wearable Mobile Device modules for an as-yet undefined purpose. The units integrate a radio (CDMA 1x or EV-DO), Bluetooth, GPS, an accelerometer, and USB 2.0 plug. We don't know what sort of shenanigans Novatel will get up to with such integration at its disposal, but we're sure we'd love to find out.
Excellent, Sprint. Now lets roll WiMax out across the country so these devices matter.
all this fuss about MeFi and YouFi and WhyFi? It's the same internet every day... does it really have to be accessible %100 of the time?
@tklr08
http://www.androidcentral.com/sprint-announces-more-wimax-locations
(came out last night actually)
@tklr08 i dont think this is a good path for sprint. they will be out of business soon in no time! this is just one of the many things sprint has done to their service that MAKES NO SENSE. your tellin me!
@Eugene Action
Why yes... Yes it does.
This HW really looks good. :)
what about a mifi product for LTE? (I have a Mifi on Verizon)
@dave1812
Where is there LTE coverage?
@tklr08
I'm talking about in the near future, obviously., :) I know LTE is coming to Verizon. any word of a Novatel product for LTE? I like Verizon's data coverage and don't want to switch to another carrier to get high speed data service.
@dave1812
I think tklr08's point is that an LTE mifi would be pointless until early 2011. Until then (depending on your location of course) the 3G mifi would perform exactly the same.
Now if you wanted faster speeds at less cost and no 5GB cap right now- Sprint would be the way to go.
@COCOViper
they removed the cap? seriously? is it still $60/mo?
@dave1812
Yea, they still have a cap on 3G but any time you're on a 4G signal it's uncapped. 4G/3G plans are the same price as 3G plans.
@COCOViper
cool! thanks for the info. that surprises me (4G has no cap)
Yay! now we can reach our 5 GB cap at an even faster rate!
@robamb2002
Seriously. They cap individuals to 5GB because of "Bandwidth hogs", yet sell devices that allows multiple users to access an individual account.
@robamb2002
There's not any MB cap on Sprint's 4G man...
@COCOViper
I know. I was referring to Sprints 3G cap and the 3G MiFi 220 and Overdrive hotspot devices.
why not just enable mifi on all of our phones???
@wtgig
Because another device is another contract. Duh.
No... In fact you can enable WiFi on your phone (tethered via Bluetooth or a cable). Verizon permits this, but here's the catch:
1. It still costs the full $60/month as if you had purchased an USB or MiFi poprtable hotspot (with 1 exception)*
2. You cannot talk on the phone at the same time.
3. You cannot loan the device to a colleague for a business strp - or to your spose for the day, unless you want to give up your phone.
4. Likewise, you cannot leave the device at home to act as internet router for the kids -- unless you want to give up your phone)
Since the MiFi and other Broadband modems are free under contract, it makes more sense to keep it separate from the phone.
* In April/May 2010, Verizon is allowing FREE use of the Palm Pre and Palm Pixie as a mobile hotspot -- same function as the Novatel MiFi, but without the $60 monthly subscription). I don't yet know if they require the $40 handset data plan). This could be the beginning of serious price competition.