Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200

April 23, 2010

After waiting and waiting in vain for AT&T to allow iPhone tethering to a computer I finally broke down last month and ordered a Verizon Mobile Broadband card. I ended up getting the Mobile Hotspot MiFi 2200 and I love it.

The MiFi 2200 is tiny, weighing just over 2 ounces and featuring a user replaceable lithium-ion battery that is supposed to get about 4 hours of life. What really separates this card is what it does. When not plugged in directly to a computer, the MiFi 2200 – once connected to the Verizon network – creates a mobile wifi hotspot that can connect up to 5 wifi devices at once.

Other broadband cards need to be plugged into the computer directly via a USB port – something that devices such as the iPhone do not have. With the MiFi 2200 I can have my desktop, laptop, and iPhone all connected to the internet at once, and still have room for 2 other friends’ devices. It also makes a great alternative for the 3G iPad by not having to sign up for AT&T’s data plan for it.

Connecting to the Verizon network takes about 20 seconds. A light on the front indicates connection and whether data is transferring or not. Security is what you would expect from most wireless modems including WEP, WPA, WPA2, and MAC and Port filtering.

The MiFi 2200 can also be plugged into a computer directly via a USB port. When attached as such, wifi is disabled. The battery charges via USB or by the included wall adapter.

What’s not to like about the MiFi 2200? My only gripe is with Verizon’s mobile broadband plans. For $60 a month, you are limited to only 5GB of data transfer each month, and I do not see an option for an unlimited data plan. While 5GB a month is sufficient for many web tasks such as email and web browsing, one can burn through the monthly limit very easily by watching online video or uploading many high-resolution photos or visiting high data websites like weathertap.com

The MiFi 2200 comes with VZAccess Manager software that is used when it is connected via USB. The software, pictured below, helps you monitor current data use. When connected via wifi, VZAccess Manager does not monitor current data use, but you can use your web browser to view current data use in the same area as security settings. By checking your profile on verizonwireless.com you can see total data use up to 1 day or so.

VZAccess Manager software on a Mac

Note: if you have a Mac computer, don’t install the included software for VZAccess Manager. Instead go to http://vzam.net/ to download the latest version.

Despite the monthly data limit, in just a little less than a month I have found the MiFi 2200 to be an irreplaceable tool for me and I highly recommend it.