We are living in an increasingly wireless world and the amount of devices hungry for wireless internet access has increased in recent years. It’s not just the desktop or laptop computer anymore. We have multiple smartphones, portable game consoles and now tablets than need to connect to Wi-Fi.

But what if there’s no Wi-Fi available, either at home or a hotspot in a public area? The answer is mobile Wi-Fi, a service that has been growing abroad and that is also available in Malta through Vodafone.

Called Mobile Wi-Fi, this is a small white device that connects to Vodafone’s mobile network and then, in turn, gives Wi-Fi internet access to up to three other devices such as laptops, game consoles and tablets. This portable device can be used anywhere where there is mobile coverage.

The company said the Mobile Wi-Fi comes free and provides a data allowance of 12GB with download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps on a €15 pay monthly plan.

Vodafone made the Mobile Wi-Fi available to i-Tech for review. The device is small and very portable, actually smaller than the high-end smartphones. It has a small screen with information on the connectivity and performance.

It is indeed easy to set up and works straight away out of the box. However users can opt to install a small programme on their laptop or desktop computer to connect to the device and manage the Mobile Wi-Fi and other connections.

The performance of the Mobile Wi-Fi depends on the strength of the network and speeds vary whether you are connected to HSDPA, 3G or GPRS which all provide different download speeds.

HSDPA quite naturally provides the fastest connection speed and this compares well with basic wired broadband access.

The connection from the Mobile Wi-Fi to the other devices is encrypted.

We found it very handy when going outdoors with friends and family, where you can share your internet access with them.

Heavy usage will drain the battery fast and will give just three to four hours of sustained use, but the device is easily and quickly recharged through USB or a power adapter.

The Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi will surely be appreciated by users who need broadband internet access on the move on multiple devices.

www.vodafone.com.mt/mobilewifi

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