MiFi Hotspot | Best Bang for Your Buck?

Internet everywhere

Verizon wireless has launched Novatel’s portable MiFi 2200 personal hotspot gadget, which allows users to carry access to wireless broadband Internet just about everywhere with them.

Anywhere you can pick up a Verizon signal, which is just about everywhere in the country, you can use the MiFi. You don’t even have to be a Verizon customer. But, just as with any Internet service, you do have to pay the provider.

Cost breakdown

The MiFi 2200 itself costs $100, after a rebate. That sounds little pricey for a device that’s only the size of a credit card, but imagine being able to stream TV shows during a car ride or check your Facebook account from an airport bathroom.

But don’t run out and get a cash advance to buy a MiFi just yet. You wouldn’t want to sign up for a service you can’t afford and have it end up on your credit cards. Contracts are $40 per month, which allows 250 MB worth of downloads, or $60, which gives you 5 GB worth of download power.

Is it worth it?

So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons here, cons first. The monthly fee of $40-$60 is definitely a lot higher than some of the other services available out there. Also, most monthly Internet service providers do not put a limit on how much you can download. The 5 GB limit on MiFi would definitely get in the way for a few people I know.

So, it’s not cheap and there’s a download limit. Onto the pros. You can use it almost anywhere! That concept just blows my mind. Imagine being able to hold a business meeting and have a working computer any place you want. It’d be like having a computer that just automatically has a built-in connection all the time. That might be worth the extra monthly-fee cost. If you don’t often do a lot of downloading, the MiFi 2200 could completely replace your home Internet service.

Steer clear of daily fees

There’s another option available for the MiFi that I haven’t mentioned. The reason I didn’t put it up with the other service plans available is it sounds to me like a rip-off. But, for the sake of full disclosure, here it is.

If you don’t want a monthly contract, you can pay $15 a day to use your MiFi 2200. If you chose this option, you will not get the $50 rebate that comes with the contract.

Also, obviously, unless you are only going to use it for two days it wouldn’t make any sense at all to go this route. And why would you pay $150 for something you are only going to use for two days? It could be used for occasional business trips, but I still think getting the monthly contract for MiFi 2200 is a better deal.