When I’m on the “go”, I need to stay connected. I had been on a search for a personal router for a while. I researched what options were out there (I always research before I buy) and decided on the MiFi. The MiFi is personal Wi-Fi hotspot that you can take anywhere. It’s so tiny that it fits right in your pocket. The Mifi is a battery powered EVDO modem and turns the incoming 3G radio waves into a small  Wi-Fi network, enabling you to hook up your laptop, iPad, iPod Touch or anything else with a Wi-Fi radio. It’s basically a personal router. It turns an iPod Touch into an iPhone without a phone. Up to 5 devices can be hooked up to the MiFi.

The MiFi can be purchased through Verizon or Virgin Mobile. Although my cell phone carrier is through Verizon, I felt that Virgin Mobile had the better deal. The MiFi is $150 through Virgin Mobile. There are two pricing plans for Virgin Mobile. The 1st is $10 for a 100-megabyte chunk of Internet use that expires in 10 days. The second is $40 a month, for unlimited data, and no contract. You can start and stop service as many times as you like each year, and pay only when you actually need the thing. I consider that a very rare deal indeed among cellular data plans. And it’s all running on a 3G network!

The MiFi through Verizon is free with a 2yr contract or $269 with a month-to-month plan. There are two data plans available. Either you pay $40 for 250MB a month or $60 for 5GB month. If you can afford the required service plans and keep within the required data limits, the Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 would be a great option.

The Mi-Fi is an amazing gadget to have on long car rides with the family (I’m writing this post from the car now), at trade show booths, waiting rooms or anywhere you can’t get Wi-Fi. If you live alone, the Mi-Fi could even be your regular home Internet service or one that you can take with you when you head out the door. And it’s very useful when you are stuck on a plane on a runway.