Have you ever been in a situation where you and maybe four other guys need to go online, a Wi-fi hotspot isn’t available, and only one of you has a 3G modem? That might sound farfetched, but it could happen, right? Especially since everyone (or at least almost everyone) brings a laptop or Wi-fi mobile device, everyone needs to go online at some point in time for any reason, and not everyone signs up for a 3G USB modem. Connect One’s Wi-REACH personal Wi-fi hotspot aims to help (almost) everyone out, allowing that one guy who had the foresight to pick up a 3G modem to plug in and share his connection.
DataJack is looking to carve a larger market for mobile internet users with a new 3G service that offers unlimited data. The new deal gives users unlimited 3G data access (or an all-day-everyday carefree connection) with a monthly service—an offer that trumps the 5GB-per-month limit on other network deals.
Sprint has come out with an update to their U300 USB 3G/4G modem that’s decked out in a more compact black shell. Tagged as the U301, the new wireless modem now adds Mac OS X support that gives Mac users running either Leopard or Snow Leopard operating systems the ability to connect to the network’s mobile broadband service. Other than the new look and the added support for Apple’s operating systems, the U301 is pretty much identical to the original U300; it offers 3-6Mb/s speeds within Sprint’s WiMAX-covered areas, 600Kb/s on a typical mobile 3G connection and a built-in GPS receiver.
The U301 is currently offered to business users for $50 with a 2-year contract.
Sprint has released a version of Dell’s Mini 10 netbook that comes with a built-in SIM card slot for connecting to 3G data networks. It’ll still feature the original’s 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of memory, 160GB hard drive, and a Windows XP Home operating system, but adds the 3G modem for access-anywhere (as long as there’s a mobile signal and 3G coverage) connectivity.
Euro-based mobile data solutions provider Nova media has just launched the GlobeSurfer X.1, a tiny Wi-fi router that shares an internet connection from both DSL and 3G modems. It’s a very compact 100 x 100 x 25 mm, 45-gram router that only features two LAN ports (compared to the usual five, including the WAN port), but adds two USB ports for attaching a USB 3G modem as well as for adding printers and storage devices to the network.
