Web Worker Daily

One of the most anticipated features of the new iPhone OS 3.0 has been “tethering,” or the ability to share your iPhone’s 3G Internet connection with your laptop, via Bluetooth or USB.

For web workers — “the great untethered” — iPhone OS 3.0’s tethering represents an opportunity to work with greater freedom, mobility and flexibility. Even for those already using 3G datacards and dongles, the feature means you have one less device to carry. Official tethering has been a long time in coming. Unofficial iPhone apps such as Nullriver’s Netshare and PDANet have provided tethering capability to jailbroken iPhones for some time. Netshare was an official App Store release for a while, until Apple forced its withdrawal due to the lack of tethering rights in AT&T’s terms.

Here in the UK, O2’s tethering support for iPhone launched today, coinciding with the launch of iPhone 3G S. Sadly, despite the fact that O2’s iPhone contracts include “unlimited” data usage, tethering will cost an additional £15-£30 ($25-$50) each month, with no pay-as-you-go option. It’s worth noting that this pricing is identical to O2’s standalone 3G data charges. Read the rest of this entry »

Verizon will start selling the MiFi 2200, a nifty, credit card-sized 3G router this Sunday, May 17th. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially if you use more than one device on the go.

The MiFi is a pocketable, battery-powered combined 3G modem and Wi-Fi router that effectively provides a hotspot that you can take with you anywhere. James Kendrick over at our sister site jkOnTheRun has had a pre-release version of the device for review and says that it’s “mobile broadband done right.” Once the device has been activated, hit the power button and — in a matter of seconds — your laptop, phone and any other devices (up to five at any one time) are connected to the Verizon Mobile Broadband network via Wi-Fi, without needing to install drivers.

Although the device goes on sale on Sunday from Verizon stores, if you ask nicely you might be able to get your hands on one now. The MiFi costs $99.99 (after a $50 rebate) and is available with a choice of two subscriptions:

• $39.99 month for 250 MB and 10 cents per MB overage
• $59.99 month for 5 GB and 5 cents per MB overage

Alternatively, you can buy the MiFi with no contract for an upfront cost of $269.99, with “day passes” available for $15.

The MiFi is a branded version of the Novatel MiFi. Other carriers (like Sprint) will be offering their own versions, too.

Will you be picking up a MiFi?

As a full-time technology writer, I repeatedly get the same question: “what’s the most empowering technology you use for your job?” Each and every time I respond the same way. It’s not a particular computer brand, nor is it a specific browser or operating system. For me, it’s a technology I’ve used since 2004: 3G wireless broadband.

I can work on practically any computer and of course, I prefer some browsers, operating environments and applications over others. However the ability to work nearly anywhere thanks to today’s 3G wireless broadband is as much of an enabler today as it was for me in 2004. Along the way these past five years, I’ve learned a few things that might be useful to you.

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