Broadband router provider, Billion, has launched Australia's first mobile hotspot that blends ADSL2+ broadband connectivity with backup Internet access through mobile phone networks.

Billion's BiPAC 7300GX dual-interface firewall and router provides broadband access via 3G mobile phone networks in case ADSL on a phone line drops out or is not available.

With four Ethernet ports and 802.11g wireless networking, the BiPac 7300GX acts as a "mobile hotspot" for road warriors.

The compact unit even comes with a 12-volt car adapter and has been tested with Australian 3G networks.

Customers can buy a 3G data card, which plugs into a PCI card slot in the unit, from their preferred mobile phone service provider.

It will be available through Billion's national distribution network in October. The recommended retail price for the unit is $269.

Distributor PC Range managing director Raaj Menon said the BiPac 7300GX guaranteed high-speed Internet access anywhere.

"What really rocks is its mobility," he said.

"To date, wireless data cards only let one person use a laptop when they were out of the office: This allows you to share broadband access among several people when you're out and about.

"What makes this unit so sweet is that it provides 3G access on top of standard ADSL2+ connectivity, so if your wired link drops out in the office, you get a broadband backup through the mobile phone network."

The BiPac 7300GX uses ADSL2+ to offer download speeds as fast as 24Mbps over a phone line while wireless connections offer speeds up to 14.4Mbps via 3G/HSDPA, EDGE, UMTS or GPRS networks.

It can also encode all 802.11g wireless LAN transmissions with WEP or WPA encryption to ensure that your data is protected and boasts a DHCP Server and a powerful SPI firewall to protect against intruders and most known Internet attacks.

Secure WLAN setup is simplified by the Web browser-based configuration for easy access to the Internet wherever a 3G connection is available.