I’m a big fan of the MiFi 2200 by Novatel Wireless. It’s a handy little gadget that creates a WiFi cloud wherever you are. I like to whip mine out at the airport. I’m big on using it in hotel rooms to avoid the crazy charges some chains impose. I turn it on and leave it in my briefcase at conferences so I’m not bothered by the crappy Internet connection in most conference and convention centers.
The most amazing thing I’ve ever done with my MiFi was to drive from Miami back to Raleigh in our minivan. My wife and I took turns driving while the two kids played Internet games, streamed movies, and used Facebook from the backseat on their laptops. The MiFi allows up to five devices to connect simultaneously. Lisa and I worked and played on our computer when we weren’t driving, and we were back in Raleigh before we knew it.
My MiFi came from Verizon. I pay $60 per month, and it came with a two-year contract. Similar deals are available from most of the other carriers. Sprint has another device in addition to the MiFi as well.
Lots of lawyers would like a MiFi but can’t justify committing to the two-year agreement since they only need the connection for occasional use. You might need it for a trip or a day spent in mediation at the office of some dinosaur without WiFi.
That’s where Virgin Mobile comes in. It offers the MiFi on a prepaid basis. You can order one via the Virgin Mobile website or pick one up at your local Best Buy. The MiFi will cost you $149, and you pay for use as you go. For instance, you can get 5 GB for $60 (which is what I get from Verizon). You’ve got 30 days to use it. You can get a smaller amount of connectivity for less. You can then let your MiFi sit in a drawer for a while until you’re ready to use it again. Simply add some more credit, and you’ll be good to go.
I’ve had good luck with Virgin Mobile in the past. We had prepaid cell phones for our kids before they moved up to a regular plan, and Virgin Mobile was our provider. Virgin Mobile makes it easy to have connectivity on the road without the long-term commitment at the same rate you’d pay with a commitment. Seems like a deal to me.
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Lee Rosen has practiced family law for more than twenty years. With three offices, 