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UK: Mobile Wi-Fi – coming soon to 3…

Categories: Three, UK News, UK Retail
By: , IntoMobile
Sunday, August 9th, 2009 at 1:06 PM

3-mobile-wifi

3UK will launch a Mobile Wi-Fi service – also known as MiFi® – in time for Christmas this year, allowing you to use Wi-Fi wherever you can access the 3 network with a small wireless modem. The wireless modem sends out a Wi-Fi signal so that you can connect a range of Wi-Fi enabled devices to the internet without the need for wires or a USB connection. No fixed-line is needed; customers simply require 3’s 3G coverage to connect.

The wireless modem – smaller than your average mobile phone at just 86 x 45 x 10 mm – allows you to create your own personal mobile Wi-Fi connection. You can connect multiple devices to the internet at the same time so while you are checking e-mails on a netbook, you can also download a track from iTunes onto your iPod touch.

Set-up is simple.  No software installation is required. Simply switch on the wireless modem and connect to the Mobile Internet using a Wi-Fi signal.  A Wi-Fi enabled device will automatically pick up the signal and ask for an eight-digit network key which you will be asked to input just once for every new device you want to connect.

Like other Wi-Fi style services in markets across the world, Mobile Wi-Fi from 3 is an ideal solution for both consumer and business use. It offers the UK market the most flexible and convenient way to get online since the arrival of the Mobile Broadband dongle over 2 years ago.

Marc Allera, Sales & Marketing Director at 3 UK says, “There are millions of Wi-Fi devices out there, but they can only be used in fixed locations. Consumer demand for easy and affordable internet access on the go is growing fast and we’re responding to that by announcing the UK’s first wireless modem. Using Mobile Wi-Fi from 3, consumers can connect to the internet wherever they have a 3 signal, whether at home or on the move. They can download a track onto their iPod touch, or tweet their latest updates to their mates, or both. Either way it’s simple to set-up, without the need for wires.”

Mobile Wi-Fi, also known as MiFi®, will come to 3 in time for Christmas 2009.  Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

[Via: 3UK]

About The Author

Ben Robinson

Ben is a 10+ year veteran of the Mobile industry – starting his career when SMS was a still a relatively new concept for most people (!), he has now consulted on everything from bleeding-edge Mobile content, to the next-gen accessories you might view it on. As a result he has a broad and deep knowledge in numerous areas of Mobile – from network operators to device vendors, to infrastructure and middleware vendors (not to mention content delivery) – and has worked for companies in all of these areas! He is based in the UK, a hotbed of activity for mobile, and recently became a father for the second time – as oppose to in his younger years when he was happy spend time tweaking all manner of mobile devices to 'nth' degree, he now looks for services and hardware that provide the most efficient, compact, and reliable improvements to his already manic life! It’s his opinion that Mobile solutions should be there to help to make your life better – if a particular solution (be it service or device) isn’t doing this, he believes you need to ask the very important question of why you continue to use it... His focus at IntoMobile is mainly on Mobile content, services, and infrastructure, particularly as regards the UK market – and with the occasional look at devices. Additionally, using his extensive experience in the industry, he will provide commentary on the industry at large, with regular (and hopefully thought-provoking) articles.