Novatel prepping WiMAX-based MiFi, signs up for Qualcomm's Wearable Mobile Device mod

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....int-mifi-1.jpgWe haven't been shy about expressing our undying love for the MiFi, and now Novatel is playing catchup with the Sierra Wireless-built Sprint Overdrive and bringing WiMAX into the fold. Novatel has completed and tested a WiMAX MiFi prototype, achieving 18Mbps throughput in testing. The unit relies on a Beceem WiMAX chip and has 30Mbps down / 10Mbps up theoretical speeds. No word on when the 4G MiFi might actually hit the market, but Novatel can't be content for long to let Sierra eat that ever-widening WiMAX lunch all by itself. Meanwhile, Novatel has also picked up Qualcomm's Wearable Mobile Device modules for an as-yet undefined purpose. The units integrate a radio (CDMA 1x or EV-DO), Bluetooth, GPS, an accelerometer, and USB 2.0 plug. We don't know what sort of shenanigans Novatel will get up to with such integration at its disposal, but we're sure we'd love to find out.Novatel prepping WiMAX-based MiFi, signs up for Qualcomm's Wearable Mobile Device modules originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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