Combine one part 3G modem, one part wireless router and one part sex appeal slim, stylish design, and you end up with the Netcomm MyZone 3G router. And after our brief hands on with the unit back in March, it’s finally available now.
The device is being sold exclusively through Apple retail stores, can support up to 10 wi-fi devices simultaneously and has a built in Li-ion battery that offers six hours worth of wireless hotspot goodness. When it’s not actively sucking down the data, Netcomm claims you’ll get about 40 hours worth of juice as well.
The device is tri-band, working on the 850, 900 and 2100MHz frequencies, which means it’s perfect for NextG, and will work with all the other networks in city areas. It supports 7.2Mbps HSDPA and 5.76Mbps HSUPA, and sells for $299 outright.
[Netcomm]
matt
Monday, June 7, 2010 at 12:14 PMseems expensive, like twice as expensive as it should be. maybe $200 would be right.
not sure about inbuilt 3G either. seems like it would be better if you just plugged in your 3G dongle. that way you could still have the option of just plugging the 3G dongle into your laptop directly.
otherwise, yeah, cool idea! the only thing that would be better would be just being able to use your phone as this device!! that would be the most efficient use of tech.
you always have your phone with you, so you’d always have your 3G internet.
wanna use the net on your laptop? just plug the phone in via usb to charge so it doesn’t run out of electricity.
yeah. FREE tethering from the iphone to ANYTHING would be the most sensible solution (by free I mean you don’t pay extra for tethering, thats a complete con)
and then you just make it so there are more data options for the phone plans.
it is the most logical and simple setup, and any company coming between us and that setup is a complete *****
the only other setup that would be good is the ability to combine multiple 3G devices under one plan. so you get your iphone, ipad, and 3G dongle all under the one monthly plan with one cap. this is so obvious. and IS possible (obviously) as its been done in Spain or wherever. again, any companies that come between me and that option are also complete *****s
mainly because there is NO reason that companies couldn’t offer these options, other than greed and/or incompetence.
Nick Lo
Monday, June 7, 2010 at 11:43 PM@matt: “seems like it would be better if you just plugged in your 3G dongle” …you mean a bit like Netcomm’s existing product?:
http://www.netcomm.com.au/netcomm-products/3g-mobile-broadband/3gt1wn
Andrew R
Monday, June 7, 2010 at 1:16 PMThis was going to be my preferred option (or the similar MiFi) with a WiFi only iPad. Now after researching the GPS functionality between the two iPads I’m not so sure. Probably the best (yet most costly) option is to have a 3G iPad with full GPS chip and still have a device like this in the car for all of the family to connect to. Then I can have tiny data plans on the smartphones… Decisions, decisions.
John M
Monday, June 7, 2010 at 9:04 PMBeware Netcomm. I bought the new Netcomm Trave Router, which allows you to plug in USB modem to create wifi hotspot. I did this to use with my iPad. Except it does not work with Optus USB modems. Went through painful tech support with Netcomm, who assured a firmware upgrade would fix the problem, within a week. That was over a month ago. These guys do not support their own hardware. If I’d known, I would have returned the useless hardware straight away.
Richard
Friday, June 11, 2010 at 8:19 PMI just bought one. Worked as expected. I have a vodafone SIM. Easy to set up and the interface is very good. I connected an iPad and MacBook Pro no dramas. Great mobile router. Cheers
tony
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 10:15 AMThere is a mistake in your description – it works on 3G 1900 not 900.