| At last! An affordable MiFi hot spot for those | | | | get with a DSL. It works on Sprint's network, so |
| times when you really need an internet connection | | | | if you are within Sprint's range, you can even |
| and cannot locate or manage to get to a public | | | | have video chats without a problem. |
| hot spot. In fact, this is so cheap that if you live in | | | | - Coverage? Nope again. Since it uses Sprint's 3G |
| an area that has good 3G coverage, you can use | | | | network, the coverage is exceptional. The only |
| this unit as your home-AND-away high-speed | | | | reason Sprint has handed this market share over |
| internet connection. | | | | is because they are concentrating on their 4G |
| If you've done any shopping at all, you know that | | | | phones and hotspots, which will be even faster, |
| all the big cell phone carriers will offer you mobile | | | | but that will definitely cost more for that blazing |
| internet, but you are required to sign a 2-year | | | | fast speed. Sprint's Overdrive portable hotspot |
| contract, are locked into right around $60.00 a | | | | costs you $100 after a rebate, but requires a |
| month and that you have to worry about limiting | | | | 2-year commitment, costs $60 a month and |
| your usage or face outrageous over-use fees. | | | | offers limited (5-gb) 3G data and unlimited 4G |
| Here is the answer to our prayers. Virgin Mobile | | | | data. |
| just released a MiFi unit that is very similar to the | | | | - Price? We've been through the no contract, no |
| one offered by Verizon and that used to be | | | | commitment and cheap service details. The unit |
| offered by Sprint. Simply carry it around in your | | | | itself only costs $150.00 and you can turn it off |
| pocket, your pocketbook or your laptop case and | | | | and on either with a phone call or by visiting the |
| you are a walking (or stationary) internet signal | | | | web site. Even if you have previously just quit |
| for everyone within 30 feet for four hours on a | | | | paying, you can log on, pay and start service all |
| single charge of the battery. | | | | over again. And what are you currently paying for |
| So, what makes it so unique? Why should you | | | | DSL? Most people pay at least $35 a month and |
| look at this product over and above all others? | | | | most pay at least $60 a month and cannot take |
| Because you get UNLIMITED internet usage, | | | | it with them as they walk out the door. |
| there is NO CONTRACT or 2-year commitment | | | | One down side to this ridiculously affordable plan is |
| and you can activate it and use it as needed...or | | | | that you can't roam off Sprint's network with it. |
| not and the cost is only $40 a month. That's right! | | | | The only place this will probably affect you is in |
| ONLY $40 a month! | | | | small, rural communities or way out in the sticks. |
| In addition, if you prefer to keep your current ISP | | | | The other? It doesn't plug into a USB port like |
| or if you will only rarely use it, Virgin has another | | | | other carriers' MiFi units. The only connection is |
| plan that costs only $10, expires in 10 days and | | | | wireless; if that's important to you, then that |
| gives you a 100-megabyte chunk of use. This plan | | | | might be the deal-breaker. You can actually still |
| is designed for those people who are heading out | | | | charge it from your computer's USB jack, but |
| for vacation that just want to keep up with their | | | | using the wall or car adapter provides a much |
| correspondence. Virgin Mobile even offers a | | | | quicker charge. |
| smaller USB plug-in modem that comes with the | | | | This is pretty much a "no brainer". The ONLY |
| exact same pricing plans. | | | | reasons you wouldn't consider this unit is if you |
| Are there any reasons not to buy this? | | | | live in a rural area that does not have Sprint's 3G |
| - Speed? Nope, you are getting the same speed | | | | coverage or if you don't think the low price |
| that you would get with any other cellular modem | | | | warrants the 20-seconds you have to wait while |
| or MiFi, which is pretty darned close to what you | | | | the unit connects you to the network. Hmmmm. |