A new internet gadget being introduced to Bermuda by CellularOne during the next few weeks will allow customers to go down to the beach and create their own internet “hotspot” to access the web — along with any number of friends who happen to bring their laptops along.

That’s just one of the possible uses for the device developed in California.

The small box, which measures a few inches across, has four antennae to pick up internet wireless signals. It can be used at home or in an office and is one of the most up-to-date fixed wireless voice and broadband products on the market.

By fitting it to a home or office computer the user is able to connect from any remote computer, be it a laptop or a computer terminal in an internet cafe on the other side of the world, to their “base” computer.

If the base is their own home computer the link up allows them to access all the files on their home computer remotely.

A business user would be able to tap into their work station from anywhere on the globe. The ability to do all this, together with the faster speed of uploading and downloading via the internet, makes it an innovative and attractive piece of new technology for business and personal customers in the eyes of CellularOne boss Michael Leverock.

The placing of an order by CellularOne for the new MV 420 3G Gateway device with Axesstel in San Diego, was first reported in TheRoyal Gazette last week.

Mr. Leverock has returned to the Island and explained some of the uses of the gadget. At its most basic it is a gateway to broadband data at 3.1 megabits per second. “It will give a better quality service when it comes to video streaming and alike, whether at home or a remote location,” said Mr. Leverock.

Because the device has a built-in router a user can be out on the road or at a remote internet cafe and by tapping into the web can connect with the device and access their base computer.

The combination of wifi technology allows the MV 420 device to create an internet “hotspot” so a number of computers within a radius of 100-200 metres will be able to link to the internet wirelessly.

Because the device has a lithium battery it can be taken outdoors to create an internet hot spot of laptop users for a few hours before it needs to be recharged.

CellularOne is awaiting the new gadgets to arrive and expect them to go on sale next month.