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.
USB Dongle
The Many Uses of a USB Dongle
The ubiquitous Universal Serial Bus or USB dongle is the phrase used to refer to a small hardware device that can be connected to the USB port of a bigger hardware, usually a desktop PC or laptop, to enable some peripheral functions the PC can be configured to perform. It is similar in appearance to a USB flash drive. It is both a software and hardware solution as you may need to install related software into the PC to recognize the USB dongle and make it work.
The term “dongle” is more often used these days to refer to any small device that dangles on the PC. People used the word “key” or “token” before to refer to such devices. They generally have the following functions:
Bluetooth Connection
A USB dongle can be a Bluetooth device that is plugged into the USB port of a desktop or laptop PC to enable it to receive and send data with another device with Bluetooth capability. The transmission is done wirelessly over a distance typically within a radius of a few meters. With handheld devices like PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) and mobile phone handsets with Bluetooth capability, you can synchronize the data on your PC with these mobile devices through a Bluetooth USB dongle, apart from sharing files between them.
Internet Access
A USB dongle is also used to tap into a wireless internet access which is usually a wireless local area network (LAN) that with internet access and allows this access to be wirelessly used. Often referred as “Hotspots,” you can access the internet with the proper communications USB dongle connected to your PC.
Data Encryption or Protection
The USB dongle had its first application as a software or data protection device that allows users to access certain application or file if the PC detects the presence of a USB dongle which can do some decryption as well.
