3 customers can get a free MiFi and join the wireless mobile broadband revolution when they sign up online for a new mobile broadband deal starting today.

Touted by many as the future of mobile broadband, a MiFi is a device that enables up to five people to share to the same wireless broadband signal to get online simultaneously. This is in contrast to a dongle which can only be used by one person at time.

MiFis also differ from dongles in the range of devices that can be connected to the internet by users. Dongles are solely for use with laptops and, to a lesser extent, PCs. However, the localised signal cloud that a MiFi creates can also be used to get online with mobile phones, games consoles and digital cameras.

Under the terms of 3’s new MiFi deal, customers get the device for free when they sign up for an 18-month contract at £12 per month. This entitles them to a monthly download limit of 1GB and 20 free text messages per month.

Additionally, an alternative offer which also provides takers with a free Mi-Fi, is available for heavy users. This is priced at £17 per month over 18 months, but provides subscribers with a monthly download limit of 5GB. This option also includes a monthly allowance of 20 free text messages.

Coinciding with the arrival of the new deals is a price cut from £99.99 to £79.99 for 3’s MiFi when customers opt to pay as they go. This package comes with an initial download limit of 3GB which must be used within three months of purchase. Thereafter customers can add usage via top ups in the same way as they would with a pay as you go mobile phone.

3’s move makes it more likely that rival mobile broadband providers T-Mobile and Vodafone, both of which have announced plans to enter the MiFi broadband market imminently, will launch their own offerings with free MiFis.

Jessica McArdle, marketing manager at Top 10 Broadband, said: “Mi-Fi mobile broadband is already a brilliant option for students in shared houses and for families who want to keep their outgoings down.

“3’s latest free MiFi deal makes MiFi mobile broadband even more economical and means it’s cheaper and easier than ever before to be at the forefront of technology.”