Your Own Hot Spot, and Cheap

There's a lot of fud in here. I get unlimited data on my Nexus with free terthering for $40 a month on T-Mobile; the mifi doesn't offer anything new. Great to see more no-contract options of course, but the tone of the article is really unwarranted.

We tried to buy one today. Sold out on the Virgin website.

Aside from that, I'm thrilled to see Virgin nuke the wireless data market. Pogue is right on -- other providers are charging outrageous prices for this service.

I have the virgin MiFi and in NYC it is SLOW.

This is the first plan that had me thinking that I'd actually buy one. I've definitely found myself in spots where I'd have liked internet access but I don't need (tethered) internet access so badly that I would commit to a 2 year contract. It seems this is the best of both worlds.

I've got one of the Verizon Mifi's but grandfathered into their unlimited data plan (had several previous generations of Verizon USB devices) for $65/month.

I'm very happy with it. For example, I can take the train from Pittsburgh to NYC with full connectivity all the way, which is pretty amazing. Works well on the East coast and on the West. (Avoids paying ridiculous hotel wifi charges; the more expensive the hotel, the higher the charge.)

And I use it when I'm in my remote office (near-beach house) in CT as my main line. Can't really do VOIP, but otherwise it's fine (1+ Mb/s).

Is there any reason why this + the new iPod touch + Skype/google voice wouldn't be equivalent to an iPhone that is $60 cheaper per month?

Does anyone have one of this in LA (Westwood/Santa Monica/Venice area). How are the speeds and connection stability?

I just bought one and am appalled by how bad it truly is. Connections are obscenely slow, and that's when you can actually get them. Skype is useless, maps are impossible, and it runs very hot. The only thing truly unlimited here is the disappointment.

Had one and returned it. Slow and dropped connection often even on major highways.

I got a MiFi from 3 here in the UK to use with my iPad a couple of weeks back - it's awesome (can use it with kids laptops, iPods and my iPad).

Not sure I'm sold. 3G on my iPad, iPhone in Charlotte is pretty awfully slow. I would be scrambling for my wallet if it was 4G/3G.

What does 3G speed equate to for download / upload speeds?

This is much better than trying to put a 3G modem in everything you carry. Save the money, buy a portable hotspot and buy wifi devices.

now if only contractless, reasonable priced data plans were more common... and the mifis were unlocked....