All About MiFi…MiFi Vs Mobile Broadband

“Mobility” has become the crux of technology today. All kinds of engineering works are focussing on making things mobile for man. There were pagers, initially. These were followed by mobile phones and laptops. Then came along mobile broadband one fine day, letting people carry their virtual world with them. And now, a new technology has joined the ‘mobile’ family – MiFi!

What is MiFi?
MiFi is Mobile WiFi. You can have internet access using WiFi, even when travelling. Conventional WiFi hotspots are fixed. There is a stationary router which allows a certain number of devices to connect to the internet within the hotspot. The MiFi technology has made this router, mobile. Thus, you get a mobile WiFi hotspot and hence, internet access as well.

The device used for MiFi access is called “intelligent mobile hotspot”. It has dimensions similar to that of a credit card, except for the thickness. The MiFi device is about a centimetre and a half, thick. Nonetheless, it can easily fit into your palm. It is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery, with which about 4 hours of runtime can be had. Novatel Wireless and 3 Mobile Broadband have developed their own intelligent mobile hotspots. Currently, the Novatel MiFi device costs about £210. The 3 MiFi is available on PAYG, with prices starting at about £42.

How is MiFi different from Mobile Broadband?
MiFi essentially uses mobile broadband signals (3G), which it distributes to a limited number of devices, within a limited area around it. The MiFi devices that are currently available in the markets only support 5 devices at one time, and require them to be within a radius of 10m. These devices must be WiFi enabled, in-order to use the MiFi services.

Why MiFi?
MiFi can allow devices like the camera, mobile phone, laptop and other WiFi capable gadgets to connect to the internet as well as to each other, for easy data sharing.

Pros of MiFi and Other Features…
Since MiFi uses 3G protocols for accessing the internet, it offers the same high speeds for downloads (7.2 Mbps) and uploads (5.76 Mbps). It is GPS-ready. Thus you can access location based services with it. Plus, it is easy to install and use. One of the most attractive features of MiFi, is its VoIP ability. VoIP is Voice Over Internet Protocol, which allows you to make calls using the internet. These calls are either free or cheaper than calls made using phones.

Cons of MiFi…
Although MiFi has its own advantages, there are a few drawbacks too. MiFi has been found to be vulnerable to hacker attacks. Hackers in the vicinity of a MiFi device, can access personal details from other devices using the hotspot. Moreover, buying and using the MiFi gadget is expensive too. Even battery-life-wise, the MiFi device cannot last a whole day.

The latest innovation has seen the MiFi being integrated into mobile phones. The 2 new Palm handsets, the Palm Pre Plus and the Palm Pixi Plus, that were displayed at CES (Consumer Electronics Show), 2010, held at Las Vegas recently, are MiFi capable. MiFi does look promising, and might make it big one day.