Why the Verizon MiFi Could Kill the Cell Phone

[kindaskimpy]

Finally, there's a product that puts a wireless hotspot in your pocket: the MiFi, a battery-powered device the size of a thick business card that provides its own password-protected wireless network (NYT's David Pogue reviews here). This is cool for all the obvious reasons -- with MiFi in your pocket, your computer, phone and iPod Touch are connected to the Internet whether you're on a road trip or the beach. But it's especially cool for a reason Pogue doesn't mention: It could signal the end of cell phones.

http://business.theatlantic.com/2009/05/why_you_wont_need_a_cell_phone_starting_may_17.php

[clayjm]

Wow, thanks for bringing this here, I saw the title on Gizmodo about the Verizon MiFi, and assumed it had something to do with repeating the cell signal in your house, I didn't read anything about it. This is a great concept assuming it works as advertised. I don't know about killing the cell phone though, I guess technically it may go to say a mobile voip phone, but to all together eliminate a mobile phone device, I doubt it. This isn't much different than having an air card for mobile data plan with a cellphone carrier, except that you can connect multiple devices.

Is the bandwidth capable of supporting multiple devices at one time?

How often will you be carrying multiple devices that this becomes the normal and not just for business or the heavy data user?

[kindaskimpy]

I can answer some of your questions like the one about multiple devices... yes. 5 actually, but keep in mind you are splitting a slower than DSL speed between 5 devices. Doesn't that bring you down to... :gulp: dial up? Also you would be essentially giving your hotspot for free to anyone around you since the MiFi doesn't yet come with a way to lock it up with a password.

[clayjm]

I guess my question wasn't so much as could it technically handle multiple devices, but with the speed being cut, would it be worth it?

[kindaskimpy]

That's for you, the user, to decide. Even when I had a data card line with Sprint it was just for occasional use... it couldn't replace my home internet connection, and I wasn't splitting it with any other devices. AND Sprint's 3G network has been proven to be faster than Verizon's... so... up to you.

[clayjm]

I think I could handle one device being connected, I am quite pleased with the 3g network for basic internet functions and in that rare case when I need it and have no wifi available. However, I would not be ok with splitting that off to multiple devices, not to mention the guy in the corner of the coffee shop stealing my bandwidth with his porn downloads.

[kindaskimpy]

Yeah, he should know you get first dibs on the porn.