Some additional thoughts about the soon to be released Novatel MiFi 2200

Some additional thoughts about the soon to be released Novatel MiFi 2200, portable wifi, available from Verizon.

(Apparently Verizon doesn't know it will be releasing this item in may; because when I visited the Verizon site earlier today for more information and confirmation of pricing  I could find no mention of this item even after doing a search.)

 

Information on the Novatel site also seemed to be lacking. 

Perhaps the sites have been updated by this time.

They were certainly not taking advantage of media reports that were already out.

It seems that Verizon has caught the disease. No, not swineflu. I think they have GM disease. The disease that keeps you out of touch with the market place (a la General Motors).

The concept is certainly interesting. Really portable unplugged WIFI (MIFI) is long overdue. No dingle dangle dongle.

It could be used for laptops as well as other WIFI enabled devices.

This thick credit card sized item can be carried in pocket, purse,or schoolbag, and can stay there, while you are online anywhere in the US.

So imagine that you are the proud owner of an iPod Touch. 

With this device, no more hunting for hotspots while you are on the go; your hotspot, so to speak, is in your pocket.

So far so good. 

It will be available in mid May for $100.00 with a two year contract after a rebate. OK I can live with that.

Now here is where more of the GM disease is on display: quoting from David Pogue's article in the New York Times with link below:

"The MiFi gets its Internet signal the same way those cellular modems do — in this case, from Verizon’s excellent 3G (high-speed) cellular data network. If you just want to do e-mail and the Web, you pay $40 a month for the service (250 megabytes of data transfer, 10 cents a megabyte above that). If you watch videos and shuttle a lot of big files, opt for the $60 plan (5 gigabytes). And if you don’t travel incessantly, the best deal may be the one-day pass: $15 for 24 hours, only when you need it. In that case, the MiFi itself costs $270."  

 Link to Pogue's article here: http://tinyurl.com/c9uuth

I think that kind of pricing is a sample of GM disease.

 

Yes I agree that business and professional people on the go may feel the convenience is worth the price. 

My hunch is, the average consumer, who doesn't have a, for profit reason, for using it may find it quite expensive; particularly in this economy.

I do disagree with David Pogue's thought that the $15 for 24 hours is a good deal, except maybe in an emergency.

If my memory is correct the original AT&T Apple iPhone data part of the plan was $20 per month- now $30 per month.

So what is Verizon using as a price guideline?

Is it what it thinks the public will bear?

Is it GM disease?

Wouldn't it be great if Apple sold it's laptops and iPod Touch etc with an an available optional reasonably priced cellular data plan?

For me, that would obviate the need for the MIFI 2200.