Vodafone set to launch Mi-Fi unit and Wi-Fi cradle in the UK

If you liked the look of 3's MiFi, but didn't want to switch provider, there's good news - well, as long as you're on Vodafone at least. At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the mobile broadband supplier had both a MiFi unit and a Wi-Fi cradle on show, which are set to launch in the UK in the next couple of months.

For those of you unfamiliar with MiFi (or Mi-Fi), it is a device that creates a wireless connection for mobile broadband in the same way as a fixed-line wireless router does. The small unit (pictured below) replaces a dongle, has a SIM inside, and slips easily into the pocket. The battery life is longer than your average laptop (about four hours) and you can connect several people to the web at once.

The other way to get your mobile broadband wireless is through a cradle, as pictured above. It's a great way to share your mobile broadband signal with up to five other users or other devices. A mobile broadband Wi-Fi cradle is a good solution for people who already have a dongle, or want the choice between being plugged in or wireless.

Despite grilling a nice Spanish spokeslady to within an inch of life (who pronounced it "weeefeee" in a charming way - we should surely adopt this) I couldn't get any details beyond an assurance both items should be in the UK retail space by March or April.

You can already get the unit for Vodafone from from one high street retailer, but not dorect from Voda itself. She couldn't give me any details, but it looks like the same model available elsewhere in Europe, Novatel's 2352, which retails in Spain at just 29 euros on certain tariffs.

We'll be sure to get you more details just as soon as we get them. Until then, you can read more about MiFi in our review of the 3 MiFi unit, or more about wireless mobile broadband from our Zoom Travel Router review. And if you simply can't wait for MiFi, the current 3 MiFi tariffs are listed on Broadband Genie.