Gadget Lust: Verizon MiFi Puts a 3G Wi-Fi Router in Your Pocket

Quite possibly the most lust-inducing gadget we've seen all year, the Verizon MiFi 2200 is a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.

Though barely larger than a credit card, the MiFi taps Verizon's 3G network (EV-DO Rev. A, if you're interested) for broadband-level Internet access, then shares that access with up to five nearby devices -- notebook, netbook, iPhone, Nintendo DSi, whatever.

Three words: gimme, gimme, gimme.

I mean, sure, you can tether your phone or find the nearest Starbucks or steal your neighbor's Wi-Fi -- whatever gets you online. But all that pales in comparison with a 3G card that rides around in your pocket and churns out your own personal-area hotspot. ("My-fi" -- get it?)

The card measures 3.5 x 2.3 x 0.4 inches and weighs just over 2 ounces. Verizon will start selling it on May 17 for $99.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate). A $39.99/month plan affords you 250MB of data, while the $59.99 plan bumps you way up to 5GB. Prefer pay-as-you access? You can skip the subscription and pay $15 per 24-hour session.
We hope to bring you some hands-on coverage of the drool-inducing MiFi, so stay tuned. In the meantime, what do you think? Is this the shizzle, or are we making mountains out of MiFis?