Data roaming charges in Europe are sometimes crazy, two digit Swiss Franc figures per mega byte (MB) are common, if a cellphone is operating in a foreign network¹ . A work around needed.

What happened?

Looking at my normal internet usage profile, these fees can sum up pretty quick to a serious amount of money.
The last time I observed my internet network traffic for simple email processing, RSS browsing, news reading and some instant messaging for about 2 hours I had used roughly 200 MB.
On my last trip I had to check email while en-route. So my iPhone was set to manual pull mode for the email Activesync connection to my hosted exchange and I sometimes requested a sync. Over a couple of hours this added up to 2 MB, for which my service provider charged SFr 16.
Normally I refrain from using the roaming data service, but sometimes I need to use it and honestly I want to use the internet and tools I’m used too.

Carrier Options

Since I live in Switzerland and often travel for a couple of days to other European destinations I have optimised my Swiss phone contract to the lowest possible per MB fee while roaming, the next step would be to purchase a monthly MB contingent, e.g. 200 MB for SFr. 200 which is in many ways ridiculous.
So it seems that there is a need to obtain local pre-paid SIM cards for each country with reasonable pricing. Interestingly I stumbled over a site that maintains hints on local pre-paid arrangements for data usage. Prepaid Wireless Internet Access
This was a good starting point. So the carrier side was covered.

Required Hardware

Last year I had experimented with a software solution using an old Windows Mobile handset. The software basically transformed the handset into a wireless access point for a GSM network. The solution worked, but the mobile handsets battery emptied rapidly. Great idea, but not usable.
Using a USB data stick to connect my notebook to the internet would only solve half the problem, as could use my iPhone only with my notebook.

Novatel Wireless MiFi 2352

Earlier this year I found a first post about a to be released device made by Novatel Wireless called MiFi, which would serve as a mobile wireless access point connecting to a mobile phone network. A version is sold in the US as EVDO version since early 2009. Some weeks back a GSM version was released. The only option to buy this device is currently through mobilx webshop in Hungary. So I ordered one and was astonished to receive it within 2 days for a decent delivery charge. Great service.

MiFi 2352 usage

The device is nicely built and really lightweight. Set-up was simple, with reading the the manual carefully upfront, it can be completed in three minutes. You basically need to configure the device through it’s web page (http://192.168.1.1 when connected to the WLan). I first tried to do the config via the USB connection, but after some minutes consulted the guide

When running the device has only two LEDs which indicate the WLan and GSM connection state.

Mif 2352 WAN LED states

So far my first test results are great. UMTS reception in my office is sometimes challenging, but the device picked up a full signal.
Charging of the device is only possible with the included power adapter. If you connect the device with the included USB/Micro-USB cable it goes into data connection mode and doesn’t charge. One friendly chap on the net posted a work-around for this. You just need to cut two cables. jkkmobile: How-to: USB charger hack for Novatel MiFi

So now I’m looking forward to my next trip with full internet coverage throughout my trip for reasonable money.
-PTL-