So, I was sitting on the couch with my feet up on the ottoman watching a CenturyTel technician working on the company’s 2Wire wireless router. It had been randomly cutting out for the past week, and I finally had called to get someone out to my house to look at it. Though I knew I would soon be sailing on the Internet again, for the moment the CenturyTel ship had run aground.

But wait. I was still able to write this in Google Docs online. How?

No, I didn’t steal the neighbor’s WiFi (it’s illegal, and besides, it’s locked); I used the new Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot. The MiFi instantly creates a wireless Hotspot for up to five computers anywhere on Verizon’s Network.

I’ve written about wireless broadband devices for laptops before (http://tinyurl.com/koyqjw) and typically run around town with an AT&T ExpressCard (http://tinyurl.com/5hvcaj) for my MacBook Pro. But the MiFi is different. Unlike the other devices I used, which connect directly into my laptop, the MiFi is a small, black device about the size of a pack of gum that operates independently of the computer.

The MiFi is very simple to use. Tap the power button and in a couple seconds a green LED on its side signals it’s connected to Verizon’s network. Then, using your computer’s Wifi manager, connect to the MiFi wireless network, just as you would to any office wireless network. It runs on an internal battery for about four hours but can also run while plugged into an outlet or computer (via USB).

Easy to use and to custom configure, the MiFi can be monitored and managed though a simple web interface. The web interface shows Verizon signal strength and battery status. And with a password, the MiFi can be configured with a custom network name (SSID) and password from the same web interface. It can even be set up to not require a password.

I have found the MiFi to be impressively useful, even more so than my ExpressCard. It’s easier to use, connects to Verizon very fast, and the Internet speed is often faster than local coffee shop WiFi networks. It can create a temporary wireless connection for colleagues during small business meetings; offer a cheaper and more convenient WiFi alternative for the business traveler who doesn’t want to pay hotel and airport WiFi charges; and provide, wireless while the CenturyTel tech replaces a router.

The MiFi costs $99 with a two-year contract from Verizon or Sprint. Both Verizon and Sprint offer a monthly data plan of 5GB of data transfer for $59.99 with overages costing $.05 per MB (similar to most providers’ mobile broadband plans). Verizon does offer a cheaper plan at $39.99 a month, but it only allows 250MB of transfer and charges $.10 per MB for overages. With a three-minute mp3 being about 4MB, overages could rack up quickly using a smaller plan.

I’m sold on the MiFi. Though I already own an AT&T ExpressCard, I’m ready to switch. The MiFi provides easy access to the web like my ExpressCard, but offers much more by creating a mobile hotspot for five users. The MiFi is the perfect tool for anyone needing Internet access on the go.

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