Apple iPad turned into a portable WiFi hotspot with Verizon 3G access

Not happy using a 3G iPad with AT&T’s network? No problem. All you have to do is open up the iPad case, void your warranty, pull out the 3G modem, and replace it with the innards of a Verizon MiFi.

OK, this hack isn’t for anyone… or even very many people. But at least one dude managed to stuff a Verizon MiFi inside his iPad. The end result is a tablet that can not only connect to Verizon’s 3G network, but it can function as a portable WiFi hotspot, allowing you to share your 3G data connection with other devices.

He’s posted step by step instructions, which actually don’t look that difficult if you know your way around a soldering iron. One of the coolest features? He slapped a power switch in the SIM card slot which he can use to turn the MiFi on and off.

via Engadget

Turn Your Cellphone Into A Portable WiFi Hotspot

Now this is the type of new gadget that gets us all starry-eyed and drooling. The CradlePoint PHS300 will allow you to turn your Blackjack, Blackberry, RAZR or other cellular or USB modem into your own personal 802.11b/g wireless hotspot. Simply plug the USB cable from your supported cell phone into the PHS300 and your're ready to go with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a wireless router like NAT, Firewall, access control, UPnP, and 64/128-bit WEP (11b/g), WPA/WPA2, and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK. This portable wireless device is also priced right at $179. Full features after the jump.

• Wireless networking compliant with IEEE 802.11 b/g Standards
• 3G device support for networks that support ‘Phone-as-Modem’ or USB Modem Data Plans
• Firewall features Network Address Translation (NAT), and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) protects
against DoS attacks
• Access Control to prevent unauthorized usage
• UPnP (Universal Plug & Play) and ALGs support for Internet applications such as Email, FTP, Gaming,
Remote Desktop, Net Meeting, Telnet, and more
• Provides additional security of Enable/Disable SSID, Internet Access Control (Services, URL and MAC
Filtering)
• Supports multiple and concurrent IPSec, L2TP and PPTP VPN pass-through sessions
• Flash memory for firmware upgrade, save/restore settings
• Easy Management via Web Browser (HTTP) and Remote Management
• Supports 64/128-bit WEP (11b/g), WPA/WPA2, and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK
• Compliant with Windows 98SE/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server, Linux and Mac OS