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Sprint follows Verizon in MiFi game
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Following a similar move by Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel announced that it will launch a MiFi device from Novatel Wireless that allows users to connect multiple devices to a 3G connection via WiFi. Verizon said earlier this month it will sell the device. 
The MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot will use Sprint's EV-DO Rev. A network to create a personal WiFi cloud that can connect up to five WiFi-enabled devices. Sprint is selling the device for the same price as Verizon--$100 with a new two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate.
However, the service plans are different between the two carriers. Sprint is offering customers two different options: either a $60 per month mobile broadband-only plan or a $150 per month Simply Everything plan and mobile broadband.
Verizon's plans center on usage. Verizon said it will offer a $40 monthly plan for 250 MB of data, or a $60 plan for up to 5 GB of data. Verizon customers will be able to sign up for 24-hour access for a $15 fee.
Verizon will launch the device May 17. Sprint will launch in the first week of June.
For more:
- see this release
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Comments
Posted by Anonymous | May 13, 2009 - 1:06pm
Does the "B" in "MB" and "GB" in the article mean bits or bytes?
Posted by Anonymous | May 14, 2009 - 6:37am
Phil, please check your sources. Sprint has had a "MiFi" product for over a year (WiPipe). So it is Verizon who is following Sprint on this one, and they are quite behnd in this regard.
Posted by Phil Goldstein | May 14, 2009 - 8:20am
Thanks for your comment. This news comes directly from Sprint Nextel and this article is only about the Novatel MiFi device--hence, Sprint following Verizon Wireless on launching this specific device.
Posted by Jims | May 14, 2009 - 9:26am
Sort of like putting a governor on the mini-bike to keep it slower. Connecting multiple devices with 6MB++throughput via Wi-Fi to a #G hub racing along at <500k seems a step in the wrong direction...unless you are Verizon or Sprint.
Posted by zeek | May 14, 2009 - 11:00am
@ Jims - Your logic could be applied to DSL and cable as well... The bottom line is that the internet pipe does not have to be as large as the LAN capacity to be effective. I say this is a step in the right direction ... allowing for a personal, or small team WiFi network to be deployed anywhere there is coverage in seconds, and in a package the size of a credit card. Please share an example of any other comparable service ....
Posted by cloud9ine | May 14, 2009 - 1:28pm
Jims,
Remember that the upto 300 Mbps N router is also a WLAN switch which can give you awesome bandwidth when streaming video from your bedroom Desktop to your living room TV Set top box.
Posted by Anonymous | June 10, 2009 - 12:50pm
Sprint has had a router out for over two years that does the same thing, it is a Linksys Router that you put a EVDO card in and it becomes it's own internet cloud. Nothing new here except the size of the device.
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