There's a lot of fud in here. I get unlimited data on my Nexus with free terthering for $40 a month on T-Mobile; the mifi doesn't offer anything new. Great to see more no-contract options of course, but the tone of the article is really unwarranted.
We tried to buy one today. Sold out on the Virgin website.<p>Aside from that, I'm thrilled to see Virgin nuke the wireless data market. Pogue is right on -- other providers are charging outrageous prices for this service.
This is the first plan that had me thinking that I'd actually buy one. I've definitely found myself in spots where I'd have liked internet access but I don't need (tethered) internet access so badly that I would commit to a 2 year contract. It seems this is the best of both worlds.
I've got one of the Verizon Mifi's but grandfathered into their unlimited data plan (had several previous generations of Verizon USB devices) for $65/month.<p>I'm very happy with it. For example, I can take the train from Pittsburgh to NYC with full connectivity all the way, which is pretty amazing. Works well on the East coast and on the West. (Avoids paying ridiculous hotel wifi charges; the more expensive the hotel, the higher the charge.)<p>And I use it when I'm in my remote office (near-beach house) in CT as my main line. Can't really do VOIP, but otherwise it's fine (1+ Mb/s).
I just bought one and am appalled by how bad it truly is. Connections are obscenely slow, and that's when you can actually get them. Skype is useless, maps are impossible, and it runs <i>very</i> hot. The only thing truly unlimited here is the disappointment.
This is much better than trying to put a 3G modem in everything you carry. Save the money, buy a portable hotspot and buy wifi devices.<p>now if only contractless, reasonable priced data plans were more common... and the mifis were unlocked....