Mi-Fi: Wireless Hot Spot On the Fly
Novatel Wireless new pocket-sized Mi-Fi may be one of the hottest-selling gadgets over the next few months.
The battery-powered device serves as your own portable Wi-Fi network. It connects to the 'Net through a third-generation, or 3G, cellular modem, then converts that to a Wi-Fi signal.
At the push of a single button, it creates an almost-instant hot spot anywhere.
Mi-Fi is easy to set up and use. Push the On button, let your phone or laptop find the Wi-Fi network, enter the pre-stored password printed on the back of the device and you are browsing.
The difference with the Mi-Fi and a wireless internet card or a USB wireless card is that no software is required. Rather than connect via your computer directly with a network carrier via a wireless card or USB card, you simply turn on your wireless access and connect to the device.
With a wireless internet card or a USB wireless card, the device can only be used for one device at a time. The Mi-Fi can be brought to almost any location with service and multiple individuals would be able to log-on at the same time.
Novatel Wireless (NVTL) may have a big hit. John Bright, who follows the stock for Avondale Partners, makes a convincing case that his peers are greatly underestimating the rapid growth of cellular data services.
Mr. Bright sees Novatel's earnings rocketing 150% in 2010, to at least 90 cents a share from an estimated 35 cents this year.
Novatel Mi-Fi
$69.99 plus monthly data plan
Novatel Wireless
