Wifi and Mifi

When out and about, I use wifi extensively. I'm fortunate to live in an area that I can normally find an open wifi hotspot within 2 or 3 minutes. I use Skype for both my work and normal telephone activities. I've often considered dropping my normal mobile phone service and going strictly with Skype, But there are  occasions where I might not have immediate wifi access. I've solved that problem with a Mifi from Virgin mobile.
A mifi is a compact (3"x2-1/4"x1/4") device that connects to the web via 3G on the sprint network and provides a wireless access point for up to 5 devices at once. I went with the Virgin Mobile mifi because it doesn't require a service contract with the wireless carrier. You pay for service monthly and can start and stop your service at will. There are several choices in the monthly service ranging in cost from $20-60. Because of the extensive Wifi services I have in my area, I can get by with the bandwidth provided by the $20 plan as I use mifi only when I don't have access to a wifi hotspot. Speeds seem to be in about the same range as I get from the public Wifi hot spots in the area. 
Battery life in the Mifi is about 4 hours. I've yet to drain the battery so low that it required a complete recharge, so I'm not sure how long a total recharge will take. I've made up a 12 volt charging cable so I can charge it from the lighter socket in the car when on the road.
I don't use the Mifi daily, but it's compact size makes it convenient to have on hand to get online from anywhere with my laptops, Ipod touch or the Ipad I have on order.