Once you get used to the idea of having access to the Internet from anywhere, it is a difficult thing to let go of. One day you'll be sitting in a café without free Wi-Fi and feel you just have to get online. One solution is to carry your own 3G broadband dongle. They are a popular choice, and if your mobile Internet device is a laptop with a USB port then this could be all you need.

But imagine your device doesn't have USB. Imagine it is, for example, an iPod touch, or some other device with Wi-Fi that could make use of mobile broadband. 3 has come up with a solution for that dilemma in the shape of the MiFi, which is essentially a broadband dongle with WiFi. It'll connect to your laptop via USB, or to other devices via Wi-Fi.

The MiFi includes a microSD card slot so it can double up as a card reader if you make a wired connection to a PC. And a wired connection also gives you access to software for sending and receiving SMS messages.

The MiFi is considerably larger than a USB mobile broadband dongle. It measures 86 x 46 x 11mm, so if your mobile phone is particularly small it might even rival that for size.

Setting up the MiFi is easy. There are several coloured lights hidden behind a black panel which indicate things like roaming status, Wi-Fi connectivity, that you have an Internet connection, and battery charge status. The MiFi has an SSID and network key, just like a wireless router at home. You need to use these with any device you want to connect to the MiFi, and without them you can't log on. So that's what keeps your Internet connection, and your paid-for data allowance, secure from those who might want to share it.

There are various pricing options available including a Pay As You Go option where the MiFi costs you £49.99 and you then buy access separately, as well as various pay monthly options. A £15 one-month rolling contract incurs a purchase price of £49.99 for the MiFi, but you can switch out of the contract if you feel it is not working for you.

Where a mobile broadband USB dongle draws power from the device it is connected to (i.e. your laptop), the MiFi is self-powered. So its battery life is crucial. Once you come to rely on it for mobile Internet access the battery must be able to see you through. 3 says the battery will last for 5 hours.

On test, with a little Internet use now and then rather than a lot all the time, we found a weekly charge was enough. If that's like your pattern of use, the main challenge with the MiFi will be remembering to charge it at regular, but infrequent intervals. Well, that and being sure you are in a 3 coverage area when you want to use it.

Verdict
The MiFi isn't the perfect mobile broadband solution for everyone. But if you use a range of devices, some without USB connectivity, and find yourself needing mobile Internet often, it could be worth considering.

Company: 3

Contact: 0800 358 9341

Tags: wi-fi mifi universal serial bus microsd internet access data communications wireless at&t