Vodafone Qatar will launch mobile broadband service, which provides high-speed wireless Internet access, in the country next month. To coincide with the mobile broadband service launch, Vodafone will introduce devices such as MiFi and stick and back it up with subscriber plans that will be available to both post and pre-paid customers. All mobile broadband customers would continue to benefit from Vodafone’s ongoing ‘10MB monthly free’ promotion, said Vodafone Qatar head (Products) Jan Holzberg. Holzberg told Gulf Times that the devices would help customers get on to the next generation Universal Mobile Telephony System 900 (UMTS 900) network, which would power mobile broadband. From June, Holzberg said, high-speed Internet coverage would be available even on the country’s roads as Vodafone is ‘drastically increasing capacity’ across Qatar. He said the price of MiFi, stick and other devices and customer plans would be unveiled in the next few days. “But as you have already seen with our products and services, they will be affordable to the entire customer segment,” Holzberg said. Vodafone product manager Markus Bikker said MiFi creates a broadband hotpot and provides a ‘secure mobile Internet connection’ for up to five enabled devices. The device has a range of up to 20mts. And its battery will have four hours’ backup. “The device is very straight forward and easy to use. Anyone can handle it as it is fully pre-configured. The user just needs to press the button and wait for the device to be powered, which takes about a minute or so. With MiFi one can easily connect to the wireless Internet and no software download is required,” Bikker said. The equipment has been specially made for Vodafone, Bikker said. For people who do not have a DSL connection at home, MiFi comes in handy, said Stelios Saviides, senior Radio NW designer and planner. “The delay in obtaining DSL connection will not stop people enjoying high-speed broadband from now on,” Saviides said. http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=363252&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

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