Airtel enters the 3G Wi-Fi dongle segment after Tata Docomo and MTS

Bharti Airtel today announced the launch of its 3G Wi-Fi dongles following the likes of Tata Docomo and MTS. Customers in Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh can buy them today onwards, though it’s yet to be made available across the country.   The dongle will be powered by HSPA+ technology, which means subscribers can enjoy download speeds of up to 21.6 Mbps speed on 3G. It also allows subscribers to create Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere by just plugging it to any USB port. It works on laptops, phone chargers and even a car stereo systems. Once activated, users can connect up to five mobile devices simultaneously for a seamless experience.   Airtel has packed introductory offers including cash backs and additional data benefits. Postpaid users will get cash back of Rs. 700 (Rs. 100 per month) on plans above Rs. 650, while pre-paid users in Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh get 6GB of data bundled.   The dongle supports machines running on Windows, Mac and Linux for dial-up Internet connections. Other operating systems can only make use of the Wi-Fi Internet feature. It’s also worth noting that the dongle will only work on an Airtel network.   As of now, Airtel’s Wi-Fi dongles are available for purchase at popular retail chains in Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh including Vijay Sales, TMS and Reliance Digital in Mumbai and Universal, and Hot Spot and TechnoVision in AP. Airtel says that the dongle will be soon be available in retail outlets across the country.