I've had a WiFi iPad since launch and it has been great. I have been using Bell's MiFi when WiFi is not available. Well, that has stopped for at least two months.
Novatel has issued a recall for Bell's MiFi. Bell has even stopped all MiFi service as of last night! You are expected to wait two months for a replacement!
Now really, really waiting for the Canadian 3G version. I have found the iPad to be orders of magnitude more useful when it has a net connection; you really don't want to go without.
Anyone else been stumped by Bell's and Novatel's recall? The MiFi, while a great concept, is the cheapest POS I have ever spent $250 on. I'm glad they are going to refund my money. I can use the extra cash + sale of my Wifi iPad to fund the 3G iPad.
I guess you received the same letter as me saying that the battery may swell and that they need to replace it. The weird part is when they say that to make the replacement easy, a new battery cover is available. How does that makes it any easier? They ask us to send the whole device to them, not just the battery and battery cover, which makes nothing easier. Rogers is offering the same device and I called their CS rep (my Blackberry is with Rogers) and none were aware of any battery recall about that device. Also, I've searched the Net and no other carrier are actually doing any recall for that device. I simply can't believe that this is only affecting Bell.... or that they are the only one doing something about it.
My guess is that they won't be replacing it. Once we've sent it, we'll receive a message telling us that it is discontinued and to keep that Novatel U998 they're sending us. It definitely isn't what I want as three of my devices don't have any USB port and access the Net via Wifi.
I've written an e-mail to Novatel to get their feedback on this as Bell seems eager to throw the problem there way, I'll keep you informed if I get anything interesting.
May I backtrack for a second... I have never even heard of these things... so it's a router that produces a 3G signal in which you can connect a 3G device? I really need to pend more time on the internet it would seem...
Mifi is a 3G router - it gets 3G signal (like a cellphone), and has wifi antennas so that wifi devices can share the 3G connection. It even has a battery so you can move around with it.
__________________ A Mac is more than the sum of its specs...
11" Macbook Air, OS X 10.7
Fujitsu Arrows Z ISW11F, Android 2.3 phone (water/dust-proof! NFC! infrared! WiMax! )
Lets forget about the device's crappy construction for a sec - the device is a great idea. It connects to a 3G network and creates a WiFi hotspot that you can hook up to 5 devices to. Only one button ... turn it on and 30 seconds later you have a live WiFi connection anywhere there is 3G access. Put it in your pocket you literally become a mobile hot spot
I've used it while being a passenger in a vehicle: 3 of us had laptops that connected to it. Worked great!
Bell should have the sh*t kicked out of them for letting Novatel treat their MiFi customers so poorly. New units should have been in the courier last Friday when the issues was discovered. Instead they want people to wait two months without a unit! What ... there is one guy somewhere in Novatel's shop *slowly* replacing the battery and battery cover in every unit. And then letting them sit in the warehouse for another 6 weeks prior to sending them back. LAME!
FYI... Roggers has now also recalled theirs but unlike Bell, they are quoting a 7-10 day turn-around time using a pre-paid Novatel envelope they're distributing.
Ironically, I phoned Wireless Wave on Monday before any of this hit the news and the only reason I hadn't picked-up mine (a Rogers one) was because I was swamped at work. Hopefully they'll get the "new and improved, now with no explosions!" version on the Rogers timeline not the Bell one
Not so sure...
(water/dust-proof! NFC! infrared! WiMax! 
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