By Nate Adcock on Tue, 01/10/2012
As my first post from CES (currently lounging in one of the upper-level meeting rooms after slogging around the South Hall lower level). I need to give props to the folks at TruConnect who made this post possible. They were the first vendor on the list, so that I could test out their mobile network services under field conditions here at the show. The Mifi hotspot is not only providing me this convenient connection, but their 3G pay-as-you-go service is perfect for a convenient travel connection like this.
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I also managed to get a quick demo of their mobile app while I was there (Android-only but iPhone/iPad version awaiting app store approval now). It allows you to quickly check your usage/bandwidth at a glance. TruConnect essentially buys bandwidth on the Sprint backbone, and re-sells monthly plans ($4.99) to users.
I couldn't get connected in the booth on my iPad, but was able to get it working once I got off the show floor (too much interference). The MiFi hotspot is smaller than a deck of cards. If you are looking for a quick and convenient connection when traveling, TruConnect is an attractive option (no plans, no contracts). Compared to paying for AT&T WiFi at 40 bucks for a week at my hotel, this is a no-brainer. You can visit the vendor's website to learn more.