I predict that pocket WiFi routers will be selling like hotcakes in the near future especially for those who want to be connected on the go while sharing the connection to friends or families at the same time.
There’s the Globe MiFi and the recently launched Smart Bro Pocket WiFi but both of them are locked into their own carrier which means if you have a poor Globe or Smart signal in your area, you’re out of luck. Or you can have them unlocked but the problem with these model of MiFi routers is that once you plug it into your USB to charge, it won’t connect to the internet until you pull it out.
The Huawei E5 is an unlocked MiFi device that can support either Globe, Smart or Sun SIM cards. It’s also a quad-band device so you can use it with other SIM cards worldwide. It is better than older generation of MiFi routers because it will still connect to the internet and share it even while it’s charging. Another improved feature is that it’s capable of 3.5G speeds but of course, it’s still dependent on what your carrier can give you. Oh and the LED display is significantly more friendly than the color-coded LEDs of the older version.
Battery life is still the same as the previous model that Globe’s been using. You’ll get around 4 to 5 hours on a single charge.
You can connect up to 5 devices wirelessly (including printers) and also use it as a tethered modem at the same time so that’s actually 6 devices. Unlike Globe or Smart’s MiFi routers, you have full control of your network with the Huawei E5. Set security or limit access via MAC address to name a few all in one portable device.
The Huawei E5 can also be used as a USB flash drive. There’s a microSD slot that can turn it into a portable network drive. Dump or share files on the Huawei E5 within its network making it a must-have for any mobile office.
According to its distributor, Gcomm Business Corp., the Huawei E5 will be available within the month for an SRP of Php5,995. It’s not uncommon for a household to have multiple mobile wireless devices these days and the Huawei E5 would be a really useful device for the family to get connected especially on trips. I was informed that Apple resellers might bundle the Huawei E5 with their iPad WiFi.
