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3’s mobile wifi (“MiFi”) package revealed, take a look!

Remember we recently brought you the *must have* gadget for mobile desktop ninjas, the Novatel Wireless 2352 MiFi unit?

Well, 3UK are launching their own version. This month.

September 18th to be precise. (Or the night before if you’re talking with the telesales/online people).

Have a look:

It’s rather nifty, eh?

Here’s the release from 3:

Mobile Wi-Fi, also known as MiFi®, is a new service from 3 which connects to 3’s network allowing you to create your own mobile Wi-Fi connection. You get a small device, called a wireless modem. This sends out a Wi-Fi signal so that you can connect a range of Wi-Fi enabled devices to the internet without the need for wires or a USB connection. No fixed-line is needed; you simply need coverage from the UK’s biggest 3G network to connect.

You can connect multiple devices to the internet at the same time, so while you are checking e-mails on a netbook, you can also download a track from iTunes onto your iPod touch.

You don’t need to install any software. Just insert a 3 UK SIM, switch on the wireless modem and connect to the Mobile Internet using a Wi-Fi signal. A Wi-Fi enabled device will automatically pick up the signal and ask for an eight-digit network key which you will have to put in just once for every new device you want to connect.

Marc Allera, Sales & Marketing Director at 3 UK says, “Mobile Wi-Fi is the future of internet access on the move and we’re bringing it to customers at price points that make it accessible and affordable. It’s the perfect gift for people after genuine wireless internet access on the go to complement the laptops and iPod touchs that will undoubtedly make their way onto Christmas lists across the UK this December.”

The specs… 86 x 46 x 10mm and 99g weight.

7.2Mbps HSDPA, 5.76Mbps HSUPA.

Supports micro SD 32GB. Quadband. 802.11b/g.

Up to 5 hours worth of ‘active usage’.

Now then…

The best bit… costs. You’ve got two options —

* ‘Broadband 5GB 1 month’ is a one month contract which includes 5GB of data for just £15 a month. With this deal the wireless modem costs just £69.99.

* For an upfront charge of £99.99, Mobile Wi-Fi will also be available as a ‘Ready to Go’ kit. The deal includes a wireless modem and 3GB worth of data which can be used over a 3 month period. After the data has been used up, the modem can be used on a Pay As You Go basis.

Genius.

Who’s going to be wandering out to buy one of these then?

I will.

If you’d like a reminder about just how brilliant these types of devices are, here’s the Novatel vid again:


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55 COMMENTS

  1. “just £15 a month” with a 5 GB monthly limit? 17 euros a month! Wow, that is *so* expensive! I just got mobile broadband (no download limits whatsoever @ maximum speed, USB dongle included) for 12 euro a month here in my country – where prices generally are a lot higher than in the UK…

  2. Wow, a whole 5GB Per month! Get real… I'd have that used up in a week just casual browsing. Then you could screw me for the other 3 weeks in the month with crippling data charges. You will never compete seriously with fixed broadband until you increase data allocations…FAIL FAIL FAIL

  3. I don't view this as competing with fixed line broadband myself, Darren – more a compliment to my existing facilities. But I take your point.

  4. A dedicated 3G router is a great idea a lot of people who want a roaming lifestyle and live off grid but want to access the internet.

    The only drawback is the limited amount of data available 5GB so you are still limited. come on 3 upgrade your data speeds and give us more bandwidth then we may have truly mobile internet.

  5. Darren, are you *seriously* expecting to get ADSL or fibre-like data bundles over 3G?

    Rant as much as you like, but guess what: Mobile operators aren't competing with fixed broadband. They don't sell fixed broadband. Different cost bases and models. The laws of physics say so.

    You say FAIL FAIL FAIL. No, the only failure here is your ability to grasp basic economics. Personally, I'm amazed it is so cheap. I can't see it lasting, if it gets taken up in large numbers.

    And 5GB in a week for 'casual browsing'? Rubbish. Serious Youtubeing etc, but not 'casual browsing'.

    /m

  6. I'm confused – what part of this offer doesn't let you access the internet when mobile? That would appear to be the definition of 'mobile internet'.

  7. Mike
    You have to admit that in this day and age, 5GB per month is not much. Here's my situation, I cannot get (and will probably never be able to get) ADSL due to my location. There is no wireless company able to supply me at present either. I rely on O2 3G modem for my broadband.
    I run a business from home. I have a 14 yo daughter who needs to be connected to the net. My wife likes to keep in touch with the world also via the web. We all like music. YouTube is popular in my home but we are not addicted.
    I won't say what extra charges O2 added on as we went over our 7.5GB data limit last month.
    Managed to upgrade to 10GB per month last week. Had to agree to new 12 month contract with them.
    We are not looking for uncapped limit, just something reasonable like 20GB say.
    What we do on the Internet has changed (video, cloud computing, music etc) everything is connected these days. 5GB gets swallowed up fast.
    If you want my “Basic Economic” view I say to Mobile Operators to double their current Data allowance, and then they will be in a much better position to take on Fixed Wireless Operators.
    I know plenty of individuals who would gladly dump their Landlines, but their broadband connection is the reason their won't.
    So I stick by my “FAIL FAIL FAIL” and wait to see what happens

    Darren

  8. If you can't get DSL then you can't expect a wireless provider to give you DSL-like quantities at a DSL price. It just isn't_going_to_happen. Unless you are part of some sort of government-backed rural scheme where money is pumped in to subsidise / protect delivery to a few.

    Here's why: the total capacity of all 5 UK MNO's 3G systems, assuming perfect coverage scenarios, is roughly equivalent to the broadband capacity of Slough. Now this was worked out on the back of several fag packets a year or two ago, and both systems have grown since, but that's the order of magnitude. There just isn't that much to go around. So you will never see comparative pricing for the same volume. The current pricing/volume offers are questionable in their sustainability. I'd expect to see Q0S time/speed/location metrics coming into play over the next year or so – you want fast, in a CBD, at peak times? You pay more. You want volume, in the suburbs, at night? much cheaper.

    You have to accept that there is a premium to be paid for mobility. It's a scarce, finite resource. Whereas wireline can be made effectively unlimited (within most people's current wildest dreams) by installing a GB fibre to the local exchange. However until the laws of physics change the maths of mobile data won't. Much.

    So it's not a FAIL on behalf of MNO's, it's a FAIL in your expectations. You think they should offer you 20GB for £20. If they did that for everyone it would fall part. Networks run a precarious balancing act between price, volume, speed and coverage.

    If even a small % of people did dump their landlines today and expected a similar level of service the 3G networks would fall over. Like it or not, you're out of luck until you get DSL or dedicated wireless.

    Maybe in 3-4 years LTE will deliver your current expectations. But likely by then your expectations would have moved on as well.

    Cheers

    Mike

  9. my point is not the fact that you can't access the internet when mobile (which you can ) its that the amount of bandwidth available is quite small. So if you wish to lead a more residentially mobile lifestyle and work on the net you still have limited options.

    So if you want to make your permanent residence a house boat your still going to pay through the nose for mobile internet

  10. Hi Ewan
    Yes I have looked at satellite, a number of companies in fact. The prices they charge and the limitations in the service (ie Latency etc) doesn't entice me. Most have small data limits too.
    To be honest this would be my last option and I suppose I haven't ruled it out totally yet.

    I hope and pray that a fixed wireless solution may come our way in the near future. I live in Ireland, in hilly countryside, in a valley, so line of sight is the major obstacle for us. There are movements in terms of Wimax in Ireland so maybe something promising may come out of this.

    Regards
    Darren

  11. So what you want isn't the mobile internet, or the internet mobile, you want a wireless DSL replacement with roaming capability.

    Ain't gonna happen for around 5-10 years – until the more advanced LTE releases are widespread.

  12. Hi Darren

    http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idU

    Ah. You should have said you were in Ireland. Different kettle of fish, that place. This is what you need.

    Having personally tested these, I can vouch that they do what they say on the tin. No idea what the timeframe is for their launch – maybe hit up your local MP. Your taxes are helping with the rollout after all, AFAIK. no idea on price/speed/data cap (if at all), but you'd think it would be comparable to, say, a 2MB DSL connection.

    /m

  13. Yes, it's a different BARREL of fish over here!
    Friends of mine are currently using 3 Mobile and are experiencing serious contention ratio issues. Signal in my area is very poor with it. In fact I tested it not so long ago on a trial and the only pace I could get signal with it was in my attic!
    Perhaps as the roll out the National Broadband Scheme they may improve signal quality but the data allowances are still somewhat restrictive – 15GB per month – but sill 5GB extra than I currently have for the same price. Maybe I could buy 2 connections?
    Currently in talks with a fixed wireless option (albeit a type of DIY, relayed option) but there may be light at the bottom of the tunnel. I'll keep you posted.
    Thanks for taking time to reply.

    Regards
    Darren

  14. Er…is the expression 'Kettle of fish' not commonplace o'er there?

    Anyhoo – just about every network has contention issues right now. It is very dependent on your cell's placement in the network and how traffic varies over the day. After hours should be fine. But don't count on streaming anything reliably over any 3G network in a developed market.

    The Nextivity repeater is designed to go in attics etc, anywhere it can get the merest sniff of network. The panel antennae built into it (it has 6, from memory) are much, much higher gain than your mobile – 15dB better, again from memory. That would be roughly 5 times the signal your mobile would register. Plus all the filtering and other gubbins inside is a higher spec than a mobile. The key thing with the Nextivity repeater is that the link is a 5GHz wireless one, so your wife can rest assured you won't be knocking holes through walls or dangling RF cable about the place.

    I'd investigate that further before paying for a fixed wireless operation. Ask people in Kent what they thought if Telebra wireless networks 🙁

    Cheers

    Mike

  15. I'm on the 5GB for £15 pm, compared to Vadafones PAYG at £15 per GB…
    I like having the monthly contract and no 18 or 24 month tie in. My dongle has a max of 3.6Mps but I will be buying the mi fi partly because it's up to 7.2Mps

  16. Ditto… are they unlocked? I didn't see a response here on that question.

    I'd certainly be interested in an unlocked MiFi unit, whether this or another.

    I currently have (courtesy of work) and Huawei E870 Express Card (on a Voda data tariff). This is – IMO – somewhat flakey (often requires to be re-inserted to get it to connect) and I would much prefer to have a MiFi unit camped out in my bag.

    Any options for me to get a unit into which I can just put my Voda SIM and have it magically work?

    (I'm not keen to talk to my Corp IT guys about this; I try and keen my PC away from them;-)

  17. My only concern is with security – and other people stealing your bandwidth.

    I have seen precious little data on Three's offering, but in that MiFi video, not once did he enter any kind of encription passkeys.

    If you are worrying about your data allowance, then blocking unwanted users must be the first priority.

  18. The vid is of the Novatel one, not the 3 one. However, the default for both AFAIK is WEP (SSID/key usually written on the back – it is on my Verizon MiFi unit from the US), and via a web interface you can up it to WPA and choose your own password, or turn it off, or hide the SSID to make sharing more secure/easy (e.g. put a note on the office wall with the SSID).

    Both of the software-based WiFi sharing soultions do this too.

    /m

  19. I have had the 3's MIFI for 2 weeks now and I have to say, it is fantastic. I have cancelled my BT line which did cost me 35/mth with broad band and now pay only 15/mth. I live in the sticks and signal was poor with BT, less than half a meg, I am now more than double that at half the price. I can also take it away with me as it is as small as my mobile. Life is good…………Well done 3.

  20. I have had the 3's MIFI for 2 weeks now and I have to say, it is fantastic. I have cancelled my BT line which did cost me 35/mth with broad band and now pay only 15/mth. I live in the sticks and signal was poor with BT, less than half a meg, I am now more than double that at half the price. I can also take it away with me as it is as small as my mobile. Life is good…………Well done 3.

  21. diabolical. I had a 3 dongle which was rubbish reception but at least it worked slowly. with this mi fi gadget I'm lucky if i can even get a signal at all even in the centre of leeds at times. Taking it back tomorrow for a refund.

  22. diabolical. I had a 3 dongle which was rubbish reception but at least it worked slowly. with this mi fi gadget I'm lucky if i can even get a signal at all even in the centre of leeds at times. Taking it back tomorrow for a refund.

  23. Purchased a 3 MiFi Mobile Access Point 4/6/2010. Working absolutely brilliantly. I live in central London where reception is optimal for those who are not challenged by certain environmental factors.
    The device worked out of the box, which also contains a card with a WPA encryption key, the name of the SSID etc. These can be changed if you are using a MS Windows OS. Using FreeBSD and a couple of Linux flavours MiFi has been ideal; since USB broadband dongles can sometimes be a challenge to configure in older Linux kernels and may not work at all under some of the Unix-likes.

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