San Francisco, California (CNN) — Two prevailing theories for how we will access the internet in the future hinge on the success of small plastic gadgets called MiFis.
The devices, many of them smaller than a smartphone, are similar to the wireless routers in many homes except they don’t need to be plugged into anything.
They connect to a cellular carrier’s data network. Once the battery is charged, a MiFi can be taken anywhere, and it provides a Wi-Fi signal to computers or iPods in a nearby vicinity.
In one of those future scenarios, each family would have their own one of these gadgets.
This can be more economical than subscribing to separate data plans for each cell phone and tablet you buy. Some families have found this especially effective for staying connected on road trips or in hotels that don’t offer free Wi-Fi.
–
Wifi Data Offload's Blog 