Wi-fi at home and in hotspots outside the home come in very handy – but what if you don’t have access to wi-fi when you most need it? And what if you need it for more than one device at the same time?
Mobile wi-fi has been available on the island since last year, and Vodafone Malta has launched a new mobile wi-fi device which, in our tests, is an improvement over the first model.
Smaller than a smartphone, it easily slips into pockets and is quickly switched on; the software that comes with it includes handy tools to keep track of usage.
The new device reaches speeds of 21.6Mbps thanks to the upgraded Vodafone network. But in reality it is difficult to reach such speeds. This is by no means a negative point: in our tests we regularly enjoyed good speeds for internet browsing even on a laptop, let alone on the smartphone and tablet.
Speed also depends on whether the device is being used indoors or outdoors but this is one of its great advantages: users can create and carry a wi-fi hotspot with them. It is great for family outings to provide the children with internet on their tablets or portable game consoles. It is also handy for sharing with colleagues during meetings.
The mobile wi-fi can host up to five different devices but since they share the same connection, and this is dependent on the mobile coverage, internet speed on the connected devices depends on the intensity of the internet use. It is one thing having five laptops all browsing the internet at the same time, and quite another having a couple of smartphones. Any device that can connect to wi-fi can connect to the mobile wi-fi device, including cameras.
This also has repercussions on battery life. Intensive use means the battery will not last a full day without recharging. Recharging is possible through a power socket or by connecting the device to a laptop through the USB port. The device has a small monochrome screen that gives all the necessary information. This is important when it comes to usage, as the data plans that go with this device do not have the download limits of the ADSL or cable-based internet access at home with high download limits or no limits at all. The data plans associated with the device do not allow data usage abroad. Portability and ease of use come at a price.
Our verdict? The device will be very handy to those who absolutely need internet access on the go on more than one device at the same time.
Vodafone Malta made this review possible.