We’ve always got to hand it to Engadget; they have the most interesting sources. A new report is coming in that the attached picture is indeed an internal Verizon memo about upselling the Verizon MiFi for use with the iPad…but is that such a good idea?
If you’re unfamiliar with the Verizon MiFi, it’s essentially a credit-card sized device that does one thing: broadcast a bubble of Wifi that’s connected to Verizon’s 3G network. It comes complete with a 5GB cap and will cost you (US)$60 a month after you fork over $268.99. Now, if you’re new and you sign a 2 year contract, it’s only $99.99 and there’s a $50 online rebate, so it brings it down to about $50 bucks… but…
The iPad 3G model will only cost $130 more than the $499 WiFi only model. What’s more, is that AT&T is claiming that their $30 dollar a month plan actually has unlimited usage on the iPad. Remember, all that comes without any contract to sign.
Engadget attributes the upselling to all the anti-AT&T sentiment, but I think it’s simply a way for Verizon to attract impatient people who may have been thinking about buying the MiFi anyway.
In reality, WiFi is becoming more ubiquitous anyway, so maybe it’s not such a big deal. On Long Island, Cable / Internet provider Cablevision has set up hot-spots in popular locations, making them available to Cablevision subscribers. I don’t know a single Barnes and Noble that doesn’t have free Wifi, and your public library does too.
But the last solution? For the hackers in all of us, there’s always WiFi tethering with our existing devices…
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