Imagine a device that’s about the size of three credit cards and can let you and four of your friends (or multiple of your devices) connect to the Internet at decent 3G speeds, all while sitting in your briefcase / computer bag / coat pocket. The up-and-coming “mifi” (mobile wifi) devices are a fascinating hybrid gizmo that offers the smallest wifi base station you can imagine, tapping into either the Verizon or Sprint data networks.

Google’s Android phone technology is going where no iPhone has gone before–to the Verizon network.

The two companies have announced a strategic partnership that will see more Android phones coming to market–some within the next few weeks.