I have been using a Novatel MiFi 2352 for months now (bought it from Expansys but it’s also available from Amazon). In case you don’t know what’s a MiFi it’s a portable 3G modem (think Mobily connect, STC Jawalnet) that’s also a wireless access point, basically you can share a 3G Internet connection between up to 5 Wi-Fi devices. STC, Mobily and Zain all brought the Huawei counterpart instead of the Novatel so I had to buy it online.
Do I need to say how annoyed I am with STC calling their device “myfi” instead of using an original name? All of these models are locked to their carrier.
Novatel doesn’t post the firmware on their website so I had to dig around and finally found MiFi 2352 Firmware version 5.26.2. I put a copy of the file right here: 20418796 MUU MIFI2352 NVTL GENERIC_Pkg. Just download the zip file, extract the executable, connect the MiFi to your computer via USB and run the exe file. Yes it’s Windows only but that’s why we have VMWare and Parallels Desktop.
I noticed an overall performance improvement, I didn’t need to restart the MiFi was often as I did with the old firmware.
All of your settings should be safe while upgrading but just in case: Default WEP key is Set To AB1CDEFG2HIJ3.
Big thanks to R.ALBADER from Kuwait for posting the update.
Are you interested in buying a Novatel instead of a Huawei portable hotspot? You got two options Novatel Wireless MiFi 2352 and Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 both support 2100MHz so they should work in Saudi Arabia. The battery is made by Sony so just to be safe buy another battery.
Another even cheaper method of buying a Novatel MiFi is this website in the UAE, they are selling the MiFi 2352 for only 799 AED (almost the same amount in Saudi Riyals).
One more thing, Mobily is selling one of the few HSPA+ (Evolved HSPA) portable hotspots in Saudi Arabia. It’s a BandLuxe PR30 or PR39 from BandRich.
UAE’s Etisalat, an important shareholder in Mobily, has expressed their interest in having a bigger share of second largest mobile carrier in Saudi Arabia.
From Zawya:
After Etisalat’s general assembly meeting, in which it approved a 60% dividend and a 10% giveaway, Omran only offered that his company is working to determine a fair price at which it would buy more of Mobily’s outstanding shares.
He added that Etisalat would finish its buying spree by the end of the year, adding that all of the company’s foreign investments are sound and well contemplated.
In an excellent move to embrace social networks in Saudi Arabia, Mobily has announced via their CIO (Medhat Amer) that if you any any issues with your Mobily service then just send a twitter post (tweet) with @mobily1100.
Mobily’s main twitter account is @Mobily and is now dedicated for Mobily news. STC also have a twitter account (@STC_KSA) but it’s hardly used for support.
Mobily is not the first in the region, Du is providing support for their customers in UAE.
This is the latest innovation in the field of Mobile Internet telecommunications: print your team flag on it! That’s what STC and Mobily think is a good idea.
Here’s the STC “Quicknet“, sounds a lot like Quakenet.
And Mobily’s “Connect AL-Zaeeem” for Hilal, that’s too many eees.
My advice to the 2 companies: Mobily, just make sure you have enough iPhone 3GS in stock and STC, improve your DSL lines and allow me to use BeejiveIM, open these ports!
I am about to purchase a Novatel MiFi 2352 or 2372. The MiFi shares a 3G data connection as a wireless access point and it’s battery powered. The difference between the 2 models is this:
MiFi 2352 uses the following bands: Tri-band HSUPA/HSDPA 900/1900/2100 MHz and Quad-band GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz. The MiFi 2372 however is: Tri-band HSUPA/HSDPA 850/1900/2100 MHz and Quad-band GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz.
According to this page: STC, Mobily and Zain all use the 2100MHz band for 3G.
Qanawati (my channels) is a new service from Saudi Arabia based company Remal IT. The service allows you to check your flight reservations status via SMS.
You can check for available flight reservations on the following airlines: Saudi Airlines, Nas air and Sama. You can also check for reservations on all airlines using IATA, check the status by flight number and check the arrival/departure activity in Saudi airports.
The service is charged by each individual SMS message. Currently only works with Mobily and Zain cell networks. STC is “coming soon”.
Via Saleh at Saudi Geeks.
Mobily has announced that they have extended their 3G coverage in Saudi Arabia. From AME info:
Saudi Arabia’s Etihad Etisalat Co. (Mobily) has said it has added a number of the kingdom’s Northern Province’s cities and villages to its advanced 3G network (3.5G and 3.75G) coverage. This latest addition brings to 326 the total number of cities and villages which come under Mobily’s 3.5G and 3.75G coverage.
I just came back from Jeddah and the Mobily 3G connection there was horrible: 3G isn’t working in many areas, HSDPA speed is horrible (less than 100kbps down according to speedtest.net iPhone app) and Mobily connect card can’t even connect for some reason.
STC is just as horrible with the dropped calls and horrible 902 services. Maybe it’s me or maybe it’s the weather? Who knows.