A couple of weeks ago Apple announced it sold it’s 100 millionth iPad and reports show that nine out of ten sold are Wi-Fi only. Obviously the lower price point not to mention the cost of carrier data plans are the major driving forces behind choosing the Wi-Fi only model and for many users the connectivity limitations don’t impact the product’s usability. Some users, particularly mobile workers who use their iPad to remotely connect to their company’s applications and data find the Wi-Fi connection speed a little too sluggish and the limitation of only being able to work in locations with wireless access points to be too confining. Even at the lower price point, the Wi-Fi only iPad is a pretty big investment and even with buy-back or trade-in options available, the cost of upgrading to the 4G LTE iPad can really pinch. An iPad hotspot is a great solution to improve your broadband access and connection speed, not to mention that many options allow access for multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices simulaneously. Here are a couple of our favorites:
Novatel MiFi 4620L Jetpack 4G Mobile Hotspot
Connecting to Verizon’s Wireless 4G LTE network, the Novatel MiFi 4620L Jetpack 4G Mobile Hotspot provides fast internet access from anywhere. Weighing only 3.2 oz and measuring 3.74″ x 2.36″ the unit is lightweight and can easily be slipped into a pocket of an iPad case. Business apps and data can be easily accessed and updated with a download speed of 5-12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2-5 Mbps. If you occasionally work without access to power, the unit offers up to five hours of standard battery life that can be upgraded with an optional extended battery that will increase the battery life to eight hours. The Novatel hotspot is approximately $249.00 but with a two year Verizon data contract, the price is reduced considerably.
NetZero 4G Hotspot
Back in the dial-up days, NetZero was known as the free ISP. With their 4G hotspot, NetZero offers 4G speeds and 200MB per month of free bandwidth with the purchase of the $99 device. Paid plans begin at $9.95 and go up to $49.95 per month for 4GB of data, with pricing comparable to plans offered by carrier contracts. The advantage of NetZero’s solution is that you can purchase the device without a contract and can buy your internet month to month. Most business users will find they will need to engage one of the paid plans as 200 MB per month equates to about 200 web site views a month. Weighing about an ounce more than the Novatel, the NetZero hotspot is still portable enough to be a great mobile solution.
Virgin MiFi
The Virgin MiFi is another hotspot option that doesn’t require a data plan contract and compared to Verizon’s Novatel non-contract price of $249.00, the $150.00 cost of the Virgin MiFi is pretty attractive. The Virgin Mi-Fi has a pay-as-you-go data pricing plan and for light users, their 10 days of usage, up to 100 MB is the lowest available at $10. Weighing only 2.05oz and with a battery life of four hours the Virgin MiFi can connect five Wi-Fi devices at once and is a great option for those looking for mobile high speed broadband access without committing to a costly data plan.
For more information on solutions for running your businesses’ technology more efficiently, visit our website or contact Megan Meisner at mmeisner@launchpadonline.com or 813 920 0788 x210.