MiFi is a brand name used to describe a wireless router that acts as mobile Wi-F

i hotspot. In many countries, including the United States, Canada and Mexico, Mi
Fi is a Novatel Wireless registered trademark brand, except in the UK, where mob
ile operator 3 owns the "MiFi" trademark. Novatel Wireless has never offered an
"official" explanation for the origins of the name "MiFi"; it may be short for e
ither "Mobile Wi-Fi"[citation needed] or "My Wi-Fi".[1]
A MiFi device can be connected to a cellular network and provide internet access
for up to ten devices. Novatel Wireless introduced the first MiFi device in the
United States, in May 2009,[2] and owns a registered trademark on the "MiFi" br
and name in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico), and a number of countries worldwid
e:[3] Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Japan, Kuwait, Mex
ico, Pakistan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, S
ingapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, and Thailand.[4][5][6][7] 3' "MiFi" is
a similar line from Huawei under the name.[4][8]
Contents [hide]
1 Devices
1.1 Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200
1.2 Novatel Wireless MiFi 23xx series
1.3 Novatel Wireless MiFi 33xx series
1.4 4G mobile hotspot devices
1.5 Non-Novatel wireless devices
2 Alternatives
3 Awards
4 MiFi in the news
4.1 Security Issues
4.2 Recall
4.3 Radio interference at trade shows
5 References
6 External links
Devices[edit]
Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200[edit]
MiFi 2200 from Novatel Wireless for Verizon Wireless
Limited to five Wi-Fi clients such as laptops, cameras, gaming devices, and mult
imedia players; with the exception of manually editing the devices config file t
o allow more clients.[9]
May be connected to a computer via a Micro-USB connection, though doing so disab
les the Wi-Fi networking, converting the device into a traditional single-client
modem. (However, CNET has introduced a tweak to charge the device over USB whil
e maintaining its functionality.)
Includes GPS unit, which is usable on some networks like Virgin Mobile and not o
n others like Verizon.
Uses 3G data network (CDMA 1xEVDO RevA).
Novatel Wireless MiFi 23xx series[edit]
Same functionality as 2200, plus:
Accepts SD card for in-device shared media storage.[10]
Uses 3G data network (MiFi 2352: HSUPA/HSDPA 900/1900/2100 MHz, MiFi 2372: HSUPA
/HSDPA 850/1900/2100 MHz; both support GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz).
Novatel Wireless MiFi 33xx series[edit]
Same functionality as 23xx series, plus:
Linux-based MiFi OS with widgets:
Messages: perform SMS-based messaging actions such as reading, writing, sending,
and receiving SMS messages
Data usage: track MiFi data usage in home and roaming networks
GeoSearch: leverage the GPS functionality of the MiFi to display a map of the lo
cal area, search the local area, display the search results on the map

Weather: fetch weather data for the current and defined locations
MiFi DLNA Server: start, stop, and configure the MiFi DLNA server
4G mobile hotspot devices[edit]
MiFi 4510L from Novatel Wireless for Verizon Wireless
MiFi 4082 from Novatel Wireless for Sprint Nextel
The Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show 2011 saw the introduction of two new 4Gcapable MiFi devices from Novatel:
Verizon Wireless featured the 4510L model, which will connect to Verizon's new L
TE 4G network, expected to support 5 12 Mbps download and 2 5 Mbit/s upload.[11]
Sprint featured the MiFi 4082, a WiMAX version.[12]
Both devices maintain backward compatibility with existing 3G networks. Other fe
atures include:[13]