Totally new to small mobile WIFI devices.

[Lemon law]

1. To start out with, I live in a rural area miles from any free WIFI hotspots.

2. My wife works in an office doing summer service possibly near some free WIFI hotspots and has lately expressed some interests in an android type of device. She does not need it in any way for cell phone service, but rather for some amount of internet service.

3. I recently upgraded my 3G USB modem for a Verizon MIFI 2200 device which can be used as an ordinary 3G USB modem, or as a stand alone WIFI hotspot router able to allow up to 5
wireless devices to connect too it at a single time. And while I primarily use the verizon MIFI 2200 in USB mode only to network my non wireless capable computer and her computer together using ICS and a crossover cable, it would only take me a few seconds reconfigure the Verizon MIFI 2200 as a stand alone WIFI hotspot. And if I wanted internet access too, I can fire up my wireless capable lap top and I could share the internet connection too at my home.

So question is this possible with some android device, and can I thus avoid any further contracts with any phone provider? Like I say I am totally ignorant on what a droid can do?

 

[railer]

Are you (or your wife) just looking for some gizmo to hop on the internet with, surf the web, check e-mail, etc?

You could certainly pick up some off contract android phone that would do exactly that. You would not need to set that up with a cell plan.
I might recommend a Droid X, or equivelant, to accomplish that. Should be around $160 off of ebay.
Obviously some type of android tablet could do the same type of thing, but in a different form factor. I often use my Droid x just to hop on the internet around the house, over wifi. The wife and I watched some Netflix on it the other day. Cool little toy.

 

[shortylickens]

I recommend you get an Android device from Virgin Mobile with unlimited data. Pay for a wifi tethering app and use that.
Keep in mind you will only have Sprint service if you do it.

OR, get a Verizon phone right now while they have unlimited data plans.
Again, android because the iPhone and Windows phone wont do tethering (so far as I know)

 

[Lemon law]

Thank you for your reply, Railer, its exactly the answer I needed.

 

[Pliablemoose]

LOL, the answer to many questions is color nook

Check out the thread at the top of the forum, at the bottom of the last page, they're listed on eBay again...

 

[bearxor]

Is an iPod Touch out of the question?

For a WiFi only surfing device, a used cell phone would be a lot bulkier.

Refurb 8GB 3G iPod for $150 straight from Apple:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC...co=MjI4NjY2ODQ

There's even a used 4G Touch in the FS/T forums for $150:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2175279

iOS 5 is coming to both the 3G and 4G Touch's.

If it absolutely MUST be an Android device, try the something like an Archos PMP:
http://www.amazon.com/Archos-4-3-Inc.../dp/B0042RRTOC

3.2" version for $133:
http://www.amazon.com/Archos-3-2-Inc.../dp/B003X26VNM

These aren't usually as powerful as a Android phone, but if you're not interested in a lot of game playing they should suffice just fine.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Do not buy an Archos product....

They're very poor quality and you'll hate it in short order.

 

[TheStu]

I recommend you get an Android device from Virgin Mobile with unlimited data. Pay for a wifi tethering app and use that.
Keep in mind you will only have Sprint service if you do it.

OR, get a Verizon phone right now while they have unlimited data plans.
Again, android because the iPhone and Windows phone wont do tethering (so far as I know)

iPhone supports tethering via BT, WiFi or USB. WinMoPho only does it if you have a dev phone.

Palm Pre has it built in.