My first news of the Verizon MiFi was via Twitter when @DonMacAskill said “Think my iPhone 3G via MiFi is faster than AT&T 3G. Should I carry both all the time now?”

A few reviews later such as Verizon Mifi: Personal Wi-Fi Coming this Month and Verizon MiFI a personal broadband bubble to believe in but this on my to buy tech list. I presently have a Generation 1 Day 1 iPhone, so no 3G there.

In summary, this device is the size of 5 credit cards, weighs not much more then 5 credit cards and enables 3G Wireless broadband access on the Verizon network, and also doubles as a WiFi router for up to 5 other devices.

I have been procrastinating about getting one, the combination to do urgent work at midnight on the AirTrain and NY Subway (the above ground part), and then the following day on a client site when the internet was flaky convinced me to get one.

The purchase process was relatively straightforward, except the usual credit check woes for an Australian living in this country. The installation and use, well that’s another painful story to share.