Wireless Internet connectivity is in for a leap of sorts with Sprint's Wednesday announcement of its intentions of launching the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 device - to be renamed 'Sprint Mobile Hotspot' - in early June!

The Sprint Mobile Hotspot specifically caters to the needs of businesspeople on the move and needing online access; students desiring mobility; as well as retailers searching a portable system form which to run their point-of-sale systems.

The alluring new Sprint cellular modem is almost the size of a credit-card-size and slightly thicker than a pencil - measuring 3.5 x 2.32 x 0.35 inches and weighing 2.05 ounce -, and it connects to Sprint's 3G cellular data network. The Sprint Mobile Hotspot is priced at US$100 after a $50 mail-in rebate, packaged with a two-year service plan.

Fitted with a brushed aluminum finish and allowing mobile broadband Rev A Internet access, the Sprint Mobile Hotspot builds a localized Wi-Fi connection for all Wi-Fi devices - desktop or Mac laptop, iPhone, iPod Touch, game consoles, digital cameras and the like. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi can support up to five devices at the same time, with WPA2-PSK, WEP and SPI Firewall security!

As regards the battery, a single charge of the Sprint Mobile Hotspot's built-in battery can provide a runtime of nearly four hours of runtime, or a standby of 40 hours!