Is it a headache to travel abroad without internet? With this smart router, you can connect to 4G without a SIM card!

【(We chat number:)]1Month 4Daily report (Compiled by: Holmes Wang)

As a frequent traveler, I know how annoying it can be trying to get a reliable internet connection.

Those choosing a mobile data SIM card must determine which network or price plan best suits their needs; and then deal with the hassle of technical issues, such as signal quality and insufficient credit. In addition, lack of proficiency in foreign languages further exacerbates these problems.

The same goes for accessing public WiFi networks, but there are still some security issues. Visitors are putting themselves at risk when accessing their online bank accounts without strong security protocols on their network connections.

To avoid these pain points, travelers in recent years have turned to portable WiFi routers as an alternative. These devices contain SIM cards. By using the SIM card as a hotspot, users can connect to the network through their smartphones. Some brands will include their own SIM cards and set their own data charges. Other brands will allow users to install any SIM card of their choice.

Over the years, manufacturers have also added accessibility features, such as wireless charging. One such manufacturer is Nommi, a U.S. startup operating out of Kazakhstan and co-founded by telecommunications expert Kairat Akhmetov and corporate marketer Alyona Tkachenko.

Although they come from different industries, they all call themselves “digital nomads”. They also encountered chronic Internet connection problems while traveling, so together they developed a smart mobile router to solve these problems.

Tkachenko said that based on her personal experience, current mobile router solutions are insufficient.

"We wanted something simple and beautiful, but received poorly designed routers or SIM cards with complex data plans," she said. "The most important updates to smart routers have been focused on simplifying data plans." "

“Today’s space is dominated by players who only focus on their own expertise: device manufacturers focus on devices, telecom providers focus on networks, and application developers focus on applications. Too often, when these capabilities are brought together as a single product, they are not utilized. advantages. We really want to change that, which is why we launched Nommi.”

seamless connection

Nommi offers 4G connectivity in more than 100 countries through its virtual SIM feature, which allows users to connect to cellular networks without getting a physical SIM card. Nommi will download the necessary SIM card information from the SoftSim cloud.

Nommi data rate is 500MB and costs $4 per day. Additionally, a 5GB monthly plan is available for $35, which includes 50GB of VPN encryption and unlimited dual WiFi usage.

“Wi-Fi sharing exists in some Huawei routers and in Samsung’s top smartphones,” Akhmetov said. “But we’ve taken it to a whole new level of usability. If a nearby WiFi network is faster than a 4G connection, it can WiFi networks reroute traffic to save cellular data and increase speeds."

"To make this work seamlessly, we have collected a database of more than 900,000 public WiFi networks around the world. The database will continue to grow as we share it with users. When using Nommi, you don't need to ask the cafeteria waiter for your WiFi password. "Akhmetov added.

Essentially, this means that Nommi is building a database on public WiFi networks, so when a user tries to connect to the network, it scans a list of crowdsourced passwords to check for a match.

Once Nommi finds a matching connection, it tests the speed of the network. If the speed is feasible, Nommi will activate its built-in VPN functionality, test again, and connect to the WiFi network.

This ensures that before users connect to a public WiFi network, the network is secure, stable and fast.

The Nommi comes in two models: Slim ($120) and Power ($150). The former has a battery capacity of 3500mAh, which can provide 16 hours of use time; the latter has a 10000mAh battery, which can provide 48 hours of use time.

In addition to connecting to a phone, the Power model also allows users to charge smartphones via its power bank or Qi wireless charging component.

Nommi has become a hot topic on the Indiegogo crowdfunding page, raising nearly $70,000 in funding, exceeding its original goal of $25,000.

"So far, we have received pre-orders from more than 70 countries. Currently, sales of 28% come from Southeast Asian countries," Tkachenko said. "We noticed that consumers in Southeast Asia are very fond of gadgets. According to analysis, most of them are heavy Internet users and travel frequently."

As a result, Nommi is considering launching tailored data plans for Southeast Asia, as well as planning bonus cellular data packs and other incentives to attract users.

Nommi plans to recruit a small team this year to handle the Southeast Asian market.

Development Plan

Nommi's six capable employees have been busy maintaining relationships with various telecommunications providers, distributors and enterprise customers around the world to ensure a smooth final rollout.

In the process, the team has also been keeping up with cutting-edge technology trends to maintain Nommi's advantages.

"We are constantly monitoring the 5G development progress of the GSM Association and will launch new Nommi hardware models as soon as possible to prepare for widespread production. We also plan to provide discount packages for loyal customers to upgrade," Akhmetov said.

“We also plan to launch a Nommi Crypto version by addressing the needs of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and making some changes to the firmware based on the current model.”

Nommi didn't elaborate further, but said details will leak out soon.