Novatel Debuts Their Wireless MiFi Hotspot

December 9, 2008 by John Messina

(PhysOrg.com) -- The Novatel MiFi portable broadband hotspot card does the job of a 3G modem and wireless router combined. The MiFi can connect to either an EVDO Rev. A or HSPA signal. The connection is then shared via a WiFi connection.

The Novatel Wireless MiFi creates a WiFi hotspot using a mobile broadband network. MiFi is describe by Novatel as intelligent mobile hotspots which are are basically smart routers the size of a credit card but 3 times as thick.

The Novatel MiFi would connect to the internet via a high speed mobile phone network such as the EVDO networks operated by Verizon and Sprint Wireless. It can also connect to the AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless via their UMTS/HSDPA networks.

According to Novatel, the internal rechargeable battery can last up to 4 hours of continuous use and 40 hours of standby time. It's small size also makes it more attractive as a travel companion.

Connecting a MiFi to a notebook would be as simple as creating a WiFi profile in your operating system. This would eliminate the need for any special software that would be needed if using a broadband network card.

The Novatel MiFi cards will become available in early 2009 and will be distributed by the wireless phone carriers that will provision the broadband access. Novatel estimates the cost around $200, but that's before any carrier subsidies.

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