Verizon MiFi lets iPhone download big files on the go

OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT--When I wrote to Verizon, asking for a MiFi 2200 mobile hotspot review unit for my upcoming Road Trip 2009 project, the response I got back was, basically, "Why would you want that?"

The MiFi operates on Verizon's EV-DO network, and converts that mobile broadband signal into a Wi-Fi signal that up to five people can use. So the question really was, Why would I, one person, find useful an Internet connectivity technology designed for multiple people?

I've just started using the device, so I've hardly scratched the surface of its potential, but here's one reason why.

Using a Verizon MiFi 2200 makes it possible to download large audio files on an iPhone via Wi-Fi.

(Credit: Verizon)

I boarded my flight to Denver to begin Road Trip--my annual journey through a region of the United States in search of the most interesting destinations there to write about and photograph--and decided I wanted to use my iPhone to download one of the terrific TED talks to listen to during the flight.

The problem was that the file was more than 10 megabytes, and the iPhone will only let you download files that big if you're on a Wi-Fi network. Now, I've been using Verizon's EV-DO technology for some time, and I love it, but the plug-in EV-DO cards only provide connectivity to your computer. Technically, I suppose, you could turn on Internet sharing on the computer and create a Wi-Fi signal that way, but that's an awful big hassle.

Instead, because I had a MiFi with me--an amazingly small device that looks much more like a thin piece of chocolate than a great new technology--I was able to quickly create a Wi-Fi hotspot and satisfy the iPhone's needs.

Next thing I knew, as the plane prepared to depart our gate, I was in a race against time, trying to download the entire 55 megabytes before they closed the door and required everyone to turn off their phones.

Well, let's just say that I was able to get the entire file onto the phone. I won't comment on whether the door had already closed.

To me, this is very big leap forward. Being able to turn on a personal hot spot like that, without needing to pull out the computer, opens up a ton of possibilities. I love my EV-DO card, but it's unwieldy to the point of being annoying. It sticks out of the side of my computer, works only with the laptop and on some machines, requires Verizon's VZAcess Manager software. The MiFi, by comparison, can fit in your shirt pocket and offer up Wi-Fi at the push of a button.

Frankly, I don't think its utility depends in any way on multiple people using it. Here, by myself on a plane about to take off for Denver, I've already proved--to myself at least--that MiFi is a technology perfectly suitable for one.

For the next several weeks, Geek Gestalt will be on Road Trip 2009. After driving more than 12,000 miles in the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest and the Southeast over the last three years, I'll be writing about and photographing the best in technology, science, military, nature, aviation and more in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota. If you have a suggestion for someplace to visit, drop me a line. And in the meantime, join the Road Trip 2009 Facebook page and follow my Twitter feed.

[seven7dust]

i thinks it's actually better for iPod touch users
you can use skype anywhere now !

[jchakra]

MiFi and the iPod Touch are also a perfect pair. You can use Skype and other VoIP tools and have an "almost iPhone".

[Williame789]

But if apple enable more bluetooth features in the iPod Touch. You can tether the internet of your phone by bluetooth to your iPod and have internet anywhere.

[terminalblue]

what a silly and unrealistic article. i understand that you are a tech writer and have access to this stuff, but lets be realistic, most people arent going to have a MiFi and an iphone, let alone service plans from two carriers. Honestly, you would be better of just using a winmo phone that would allow tethering AND downloading instead of carrying three devices (laptop, iphone, mifi)just so you can say "look what i can do with my iphone.

This article is GREAT demonstrator of the iphone limitations and hype, that you have to have two services providers just to get the half the functionality out of the standard winmo device

[seven7dust]

but many people don't like WinMo
cause it's more of a hassle than the restrictiveness of the iPhone
plus tethering is coming soon {there's actually a way to do it now too with hacking}

[dbargen]

You forget the many who don't want to or can't switch to AT&T, but still bought an iPhone and use the jailbroken version, giving them the ipod/phone in one device, but data access being limited to WiFi.

For jailbreakers like a few of my coworkers, this would be a godsend. I'd switch to AT&T to use one myself, but the data plans end up being more than I'm willing to pay.

This little gem from Verizon would give them mobile data access just about anywhere, and they wouldn't even have to change providers.

[bonesbautista]

I don't think the blog post is silly or unrealistic.

I have an ATTWS broadband card and a tethering plan with my VZW Storm - and I use a Cradlepoint WWAN CTR500 router. And, when I'm in town - Portland - I use my Clear USB drive. Portable hotspot for myself - and my clients. The only thing the CTR500 is missing is a battery, but it's got a car adapter. I also set up a private network on my laptop in about a minute to share my wireless broadband connection. Your solution works great too, but it's too much trouble for me - half the businesses I go to won't allow a camera phone in the front door, so the WWAN card and Cradlepoint are perfect for me. Heck, I'm in the construction industry and it's almost painless to share these resources - I wish they would have been available 20 years ago when I got started.

[abcd9009]

I just wished Verizon would come to it's senses and follow one of it's parent company - Vodafone and recognize GSM is the way to go. They have the best network but the worst phones only because the best phones are made exclusively for GSM networks since they can be sold worldwide - larger market for phone manufacturers.
Biggest example of course is the iPhone and the world's largest phone manufacturer Nokia having majority of their phones on GSM.
I think the best way for Verizon to enter GSM quickly would be to just buy out T-Mobile USA and crush AT&T dominance. I love the iPhone but hate AT&T network and the iPhone won't come to Verizon until they move on to LTE which could take years.

[statelypenguin]

@abcd9009: Do you really think that makes any sense at all? So Verizon is just supposed to drop their entire CDMA network? The network they've literally spent billions developing? And what of all the people who have phones with VZW currently? Do they just toss out their phones and get new GSM versions or what? Or is Verizon just supposed to keep their CDMA network up and running for a few more years, in addition to retrofitting all their towers with GSM? And Verizon would just, what, eat the cost of the electricity required to simultaneously run two nationwide voice and data networks? No, they'd pass that cost down to their customers.

As far as buying T-Mobile: you think regulators will allow that? They've already purchased Alltel this year. Purchasing T-Mobile would give them 50% more customers than AT&T.

And as for the LTE, that isn't what is keeping the iPhone off Verizon. They sell the iPhone in Japan and I don't believe they have any GSM networks. What kept the iPhone off Verizon is that they turned it down (probably the biggest mistake they ever made) because they didn't want to give Apple control over their phones. LTE doesn't really have anything to do with the equation. It's only data, and it runs with CDMA as well as GSM.

I'd argue that they don't have good phones because they don't want people to have them. Letting people have all these super-enabled phones only lets them use the network more, and if I've learned anything from Verizon, it's that they love to gimp their phones.

[alt117]

. the most cost effective, versatile combo for traveling are a MiFi, an ipod touch, a net book, and a basic cell phone on a cheap plan. the small phone and mifi are extra things in your pocket, but the monthly charges are less than the iPhone, and I get the ability to use the netbook online without tethering charges.

[Qiaanzhu]

AGREED! This is what I've been saying to everyone who would listen. I suffered with an iPhone 3G for 14 months before I finally got smart and bought out the contract--I'd long been using my old T-Mobile prepaid phone as a backup for AT&T's sucky service, and realized that it was all that I needed for phone service. Verizon MiFi at $40/mo (250MB) gives me all the data I need, on average (even if I occasionally go over, it's still cheaper than the $60/5GB plan). My iPhone, with the MiFi, will be a connected iPod touch + camera + GPS, which is perfect.

[leeast]

I will never buy an iPhone, but I do have an iPod Touch, as well as a MacBook (with XP installed) and an Acer netbook. I used to use a VZW aircard and now have the MiFi card. I no longer need to hassle with the manager. I just turn on the MiFi and in about 15 seconds I'm online with any or all of my devices. The MiFi has solved many issues for me in the last three weeks, since I got it. (a side note for people on Sprint, the MiFi 2200 is now being offered there as well)

[stale_pancake]

I am so glad to hear c|net finally found this awesome device. I bought one of these a ways back because I carry a netbook with me just about everywhere I go. I also didn't want a netbook that had 3G built in. I specifically waited for this Verizon MiFi to release because you can have up to 5 WiFI devices connected to it simutaniously.

I carry the netbook, but I also own an iPod Touch. I don't always use both at the same time of course, but the fact that I can is a plus. Just as the author pointed out, you can use a small device that uses WiFi with this device. You don't need any special software either. You could use any device that uses WiFi. That means a PSP will work. An iPod Touch or an iPhone. Anything at all.

Though I am a skype user, Skype has features that make it easy to use skype with nothing more than an ordinary cell phone. No data plan is required. Skype doesn't seem to understand the power of advertising these features, but you can make a call into skype, hear a list of speed dials of numbers you have that you want to call, and skype will connect them to you like an operator. You can call Japan, China, or anyplace you want with skype with nothing more than an ordinary cell phone or land-line. I have used skype on my touch a few times and it works quite well, but I wouldn't waste my 5 GB a month limit on skype calls.

About a year ago I was traveling from San Francisco to New York every 2 months. I had gone from SFO to LAX twice just days apart. Once I swear I must of flew to LA more than some pilots do in a day. You would not believe me if I told you how many times in a single day I went. I don't even believe it, and I did it.I should have called Genius.

smartphones are great, but need to look at PDFs XLS and sometimes I need to create quotes or do complex things in excel that simply aren't suited for iPhones or Blackberry devices. I tried many times to do everything on SmartPhones, but when NetBooks hit, I was a buyer immediately. But unlike cell phones, they don't have data plans. Well, they are starting to now, which is great. But Verizon nailed it with this MiFi device. You can carry whatever device you want, and share a single data plan. That's for me. That has me written all over it.

My only wish now is that these 5 GB monthly limits be lifted. Even though this is a slow device compared to my home broadband, which I am lucky to have really. My broadband at home is 18 MB/sec down and 2MB/sec up. It's really fast. But I have three data plans when you think of it.

I have a data BES plan for my Blackberry.
I have a Verizon MiFi data plan.
I have my cable broadband plan.

That's a lot of money. I could opt to tether to get rid of one of these. But O don't want to do that for reasons it would take a few pages to explain. The plan I would rather get rid of is my home broadband plan. I would rather only own the MiFi and my Blackberry data plan. The reason is very simple. Both of these go with me everyhwere I go. Both of these last for hours and hours with no outside power. Both of these can be charged via my USB port. Both of these re-charge very quickly.

If Verizon started to offer unlimited data, I'd be all over it. I'll take convenience over speed any day. Especially because as much as I like the speed of my home broadband, I don't actually need it. It's great to have for larger updates to my PC, but I can go to any WiFi hot spot or my office and download that stuff. I don't need it at home. I'm around fast networks enough to use their greater speeds when it makes sense. Most of the time, I am just writing emails and sending documents via email. MiFi can handle that easily. But I don't want to blow my 5 GB cap, because the fees after you exceed that are 5 x the normal rate. 1 GB would cost you $50. So if you passed say the 5 GBs and went to 6 GB, you'd not see the normal $60 bill. You'd see a $110 bill. and if you did 7 GB, you'd see a $160 bill. You get the idea. Make sure you monitor your usage, else you might be surprised. and we have all heard of these crazy high bills people find themselves in for doing things like downloading a movie over their cellular data plan. I'd never ever do that. But still, the thought of seeing some insanely high bill does worry me.

Anyway, great that c|net found this. It's an awesome device. If you are as mobile as I, you will love it.

[dnotarnicola]

Shout loudly and from the highests points to everyone that can hear, that this is the solution to getting reasonable internet access on the iPhone, because AT&T wants to drag its feet while it figures out how to nickel and dime its customers. In the mean time, my money will happily go to Verizon, you dummies (AT&T that is.)

[BtmnHatesRbn]

Verizon stucks big time.

[BtmnHatesRbn]

Um...why wouldn't I just sign up with AT&T, which has better service in the Vegas area and all my friends and family have, that stick with Verizon? I can get an iPhone for my service switch. The only I have Verizon is this: In the 1980s, my mother signed up so Cellular One, which provided all beeper and cell service in Vegas at the time. Then from Cellular One, 360 Communications bought their service in the Mid-'90's and gave us new flip phones and took our brick phones. After a few years, Alltel bought 360 Communications in the Vegas area, and we again given new phones. Then a mere few months after that, Verizon bought Alltel in the Vegas area and brought the worst, most terrible, cheaty, crappy service I ever had. Now AT&T bought all the antennas for service in Vegas and wants to cut off non-AT&T service. Fine by me. Can't wait to be forced to switch.

I did have Cingular (now AT&T) for five months in 2002 because of a company thing. I was getting service in the middle of the mountains, down by Lake Mojave, near Lincoln County, in the middle of sand dunes, etc. Verizon...I'm lucky if I get service between my living oom and my kitchen. I do get excellent service in the middle of the Armargosa Desert, which doesn't help at all.

[seaslugofdoom]

It's a sad testament that, in addition to using the Mifi in the way that Daniel has done, I find myself using it in my office as well, because I usually can't get an AT&T 3G signal in the building. Verizon signal for the Mifi? No problem.

The 5Gig limit is the pits. When Verizon turns you down for Fios or DSL they congratiolate you for being able to get there wireless service, but 5Gig limit with a family is not easy to maintain. After over 20 years with my landline you fiqure Verizon could upgrade me to a decent service, but they do not care about there customer base.

[sjmuller]

This article doesn't really demonstrate any benefits of the MiFi (not that it doesn't have clear benefits), as much as it simply points out woeful inadequacies of the iPhone and AT&T. You should NOT have to use a third party's network AND hardware just to be able to use your primary network device. Doesn't this strike anyone else as absurd? TWO different network data plans, plus an extra piece of hardware to carry around, just to achieve functionality on one iPhone?!

[Zoboflobby]

Can't say I have the same love for this device, I need wifi EVERYWHERE I can get it and this thing is not living up to the battle. http://www.endlessweather.com/?p=317

[commenteror]

what a great idea! now i can watch my Slingbox on the iphone anywhere, just like i wanted to in the first place. Screw you ATT!

[ralfthedog]

Just a guess, tethering accounts will not be limited to sub 100 meg downloads. Spend the extra $30 and download any application or movie directly to your phone.

[PixP]

I?ve been a Verizon wireless customer for almost 2 years now. I used it when I was working over the road. When I signed the contract and got the service I asked and made it absolutely clear that the service must be unlimited. I did not care so much as a bandcap as I did a datacap. My two year contact is just about up in a couple months. For the past couple months I?ve been looking at an upgrade from my express card. I read about this new MiFi router and went, ?That?s cool as hell!? I went down to the local store and made my purchase and will be seeing the device in the mail in about two, or three days. Being excited about my new purchase I went online and was checking out all the cool things I would be able to do with it. Come to find Verizon had put a 5gb a month limit on their service without notifying me of the changes, and that they are charging .05 extra a mb you go over. Let?s see here. They offered a new mifi device that can let you connect 5 wireless devices to it, but you don?t get the data transfer rate allowed to use those 5 devices? I wonder if they even offer away to automatically shut off your service when you reach your limit? NOT! Whelp I haven?t signed a contract yet. That device will be returned unused and in two months I?m canceling service. Next we will hear about how bad the economy has treated Verizon and how they will need to file for bankruptcy and need a bailout all as a smoke screen for bad business and ethical behavior.

[basraw]

everyone is doing that.

.05/mb over is pretty cheap.

compare plans with everyone.

ClearWire/4g will have no datacaps.

[basraw]

Don't forget Sprint MiFI too.

Alsothe "Cradlepoint PHS300 Battery Mobile Broadband Router"... handles MANY different services.. not locked into 1!!! Only downside is having to use that use your services connect card..

I thinking about getting an IPOD touch and getting some Sprint Data service and using the PHS300 for on the go.

[gschweitzer]

i love the mifi... really makes a difference at hotels and airports... more secure and reliable. great product.