Extending their range of “Unified Threat Management” devices, WatchGuard’s 3G Extend USB permits connection via pretty-well any local 3G data service.  All you have to do is purchase a data service from your 3G provider and plug their USB ‘dongle’ into the WatchGuard unit; you’re good-to-go.

“The WatchGuard 3G Extend USB embodies our vision of extensible security.  With it, customers gain the freedom to choose their service provider and the flexibility to deploy high security to any location, anywhere there is cellular data service” said Tim Helming, Director of Product Management at WatchGuard Technologies.

There are three obvious applications for this device:

Remote Office.  There are plenty of situations where a small office is either too temporary, too mobile or too out-of-reach for a fixed-wire service.  In each of these cases, a secured wireless connection provides a simple solution.

Kiosk Payments.  There are plenty of temporary retail environments where there is simply no ability to obtain fixed-line data communications.  These might include casual leasing space in shopping centres, market stalls or even temporary ATMs.

WAN Failover.  The WatchGuard 3G Extend provides a very simple, low-cost alternative to POTS services as a backup data connection in the event of a failure in the primary data service.  The primary advantage being that any failure in ADSL or similar services will probably take out the POTS service as well.  By using a very different channel, the likelihood of losing all connectivity is greatly reduced.

The WatchGuard 3G Extend USB is available from authorised resellers in Australia for $325 +GST