MiFi launched by 3 – Is the dongle’s end near?
Just as Christmas is about to come, the mobile network 3 has unveiled its newest innovation. It is the Mobile WiFi aka MiFi, which will enable you to make use of the 3G mobile broadband network via a Wi-Fi link.
A wireless router, powered on a small battery, will be included when you have signed on to Mobile WiFi. There is no configuration needed. Just put in your 3 UK SIM and power on the modem in order to activate your porta – WiFi hotspot.
If the question “What’s so special about Mi-Fi?” popped up in your mind, it’s this. Though you can purchase routers which enable you to have a 3G connection via WiFi, there isn’t a solution currently in the market which allows the portability of MiFi or the zero configuration.
This service will be available on purchase of a new subscription. You can avail of 2 packages. One is the ‘Broadband 5GB 1 month’ package, whereby you pay 15 pounds for 5 GB of data. The modem itself will set you back by 69.99 pounds. The other package is ‘Ready to Go’, whereby, for a one – time payment of 99.99 pounds, you get 3 GB of data in addition to the MiFi modem, which could be utilized for 3 months. After this, the modem can be used on a PAYG basis.
MiFi is a great thing for people who would want wireless broadband on the go. A wireless solution is sure to appeal to everyone. Moreover, the number of devices having WiFi is increasing. This includes a number of phones, game consoles and laptops. Though it is an amazing innovation, it is yet to be seen whether customers will be willing to throw in the dongle.
Mobile WiFi will be open for subscriptions from 17th September from 3 and in all 3 stores in the country from the 18th.
Ad scheme of 3 mobile broadband to set a precedent in broadband advertising
Today, 3 became the first ever broadband provider in the country to provide advertising on its software itself. Could this possibly be the tip of the iceberg for something even bigger?
The first company to have partnered 3 on this scheme is Yell.com. Their ads will be present on the dashboard. Users of 3 mobile broadband will be shown the advertisement of Yell.com as well as a search window every time that they go online using their dongle.
So how can we expect customers to respond if this becomes part of a wider – scale advertising on software?
It depends on a number of factors. When you consider the fact that Yell.com is a telephone directory, it is something that is quite useful to have as part of your browser and we can’t really imagine as to the reason that a person could possibly object to this. However, if broadband suppliers started getting adds from more divisive and obstrusive brands, such as Nestle or McDonalds, customers might not be very happy.
What do you think about this? Leave your opinion on this subject in the comments box below.
3 Mobile Broadband
Broadband connectivity for mobile computing needs is offered by 3 Mobile in two modes: Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go. Either way, you get a choice of USB dongles or modems you connect to your laptop or netbook.
HSDPA Network
3’s high speed network revolves around the HSDPA or High Speed Downlink Packet Access network, providing true broadband speeds to your internet access at home office or on the road. While other networks boasts about giving you HSDPA’s theoretical limits of up to 2.8 Mbps, you never can get that. Even if 3’s theoretical network speeds can reach 3.5Mbps, it is candid enough to say that your download speed can be diminished be factors such as (1) your proximity from the mobile masthead or antenna (2) obstruction like trees and buildings between you and its mast, and more importantly, (3) the users sharing the same mast. 3 Mobile subscribers are assured download speeds from 600Kbps to 1.6Mbps.
Coverage, Speed and Connection Reliability
These are the three areas that 3 Mobile promises to excel at for its mobile broadband subscribers. You get to connect to its HSDPA mast anywhere in the country. 3 Mobile boasts of having the widest HSDPA coverage reach in all of Britain at 90%. Compare that to T-Mobile’s 84% and Vodafone’s 81%.
Once you’re online, you are sure to enjoy download speeds in the range from 0.6 Mbps to 1.6 Mbps. A 3-4 minute MP3 file can be download in 30 seconds or less. Once in the network, there’s little or no chance of getting disconnected while moving on the road. That’s called high reliability.
Enhancing the Speed and Coverage
3 is currently upgrading its network to secure twice the download speed at HSUPA maximum of 7.2Mbps from its current 3.6Mbps standard while operating greater capacity and coverage. This network enhancement is expected to start rolling out in October with London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester as the first UK cities to enjoy its benefits. By the end of 2010, 3 is expected to reach 98.5% broadband coverage in the UK with 30% faster internet speeds over what current subscribers already enjoy with their mobile broadband high speed connection.
