3G Mobile Gateway Pack
This is basically a mobile Wi-Fi access point that uses a 3G cellular network such as Verizon's EV-DO for its backhaul.
Entrée Wireless, a leading developer of Mobile Wireless Gateways, and the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology [Cal-(IT)2] will deploy Entrée’s technology solution to provide high-speed wireless connectivity in the field for first responders in disaster situations.
I couldn't get the sense of this--why not have the first responders connect with the 3G network directly? Then I read this:
The system is noted for its proprietary Bandwidth Limiting Technology (BLT) that protects the cellular network, and its provision for Incremental Revenue Generation (IRG).
I guess it assumes that Wi-Fi enabled laptops and PDAs (and soon to be smartphones), will become the standard for the first responders. It's certainly less expensive than the current $80/month fee for 3G.
UPDATE: I ran this past Glenn Fleishman and received this prompt response...
Fortunately, you can turn any Mac OS X 10.3 or Windows XP laptop into
the same thing. Windows and Mac OS X (10.2 has this, but 10.3 is
better) allow you to bridge connections, so you can share a 1xEvDO connection
over Wi-Fi as a software base station. It's not as free-standing as the
unit in the PR above, but get a couple of external batteries like the
Valence or the $100 freestanding battery unit I got from Costco (DC,
AC, charges off AC or car DC, etc.) and you could run an LCD-off laptop for
probably a full day without recharging.
Of course, this is something that you need to clear with 3G carrier first.
I would prefer to see a service where first-responders could receive a discount on their 3G for their involvement with a program that could provide educational as well as emergency alerts using a handset of their choosing. They would also have the ability to send video of a situation that others may review to determine if a terrorist attack has indeed occurred. This would better take advantage of the ubiquity of the 3G signal over Wi-Fi.
UPDATE 2: In response to my statement about notifying the carrier first Glenn writes: No, no, you don't! You just get the cell data connection up and hit share. I mean, it might violate the AUP, but it's untrackable.
3:56:14 PM 
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