In January, Plastic Logic passed the PLR001 QUE proReader eBook reader through the FCC.  The PLR001 featured only WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities.  Today, the company passed the PLR002 through the FCC.  This model is essentially the same as the PLR001 (above), except it adds WWAN functionality for downloading books.

FCC documents from Plastic Logic show a number of interesting benchmarks for WWAN performance.  The table below shows real world data download rates are expected to range from 700 kbps to 1700 kbps, while the high end data download rate will peak at 7,200 kbps

Plastic Logic also gives some examples of download times for various materials, below.  The Forbes Investors Guide will take 5.8 seconds to download, for example, while the Count of Monte Cristo will clock in at 11.4 seconds.

You can take a look at the SAR evaluation report here.

Plastic Logic is currently taking orders for both the PLR001 and PLR002.  The former will run you $649, while the latter costs $799.  The QUE is expected to ship on May 17, 2010.

This tiny device was one of the more popular items in Akihabara’s Yodobashi electronics store.  Offered by Emobile, a Japanese wireless data carrier, this device acts as a tiny WiFi hotspot, just like the MiFi-style devices offered by Verizon and Sprint in the US.

I do have to say though, Emobile has a more compact solution here – the device weighs in at less than 3 ounces, and it fits in the palm of your hand, not to mention a pocket or purse.  And unlike the MiFi, this device was really being marketed heavily, particularly as a complement to the iPod Touch and netbooks.

Insert your EDGE/GPRS or UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA SIM card into the D-Link DIR 455, and viola, you’ve got yourself a wireless hotspot and a landline.  There are a growing number of 3G routers out on the market today, and the DIR 455 isn’t especially unique.  However, it is nice to see a big-name networking vendor step introduce what appears to be a comprehensive, yet simple 3G router.

No word on pricing or availability yet, but the DIR 455 passed through the FCC today so we should be seeing it on shelves soon.

We’ve seen a number of 3G routers pass through the FCC recently, and here’s another one from D-Link.  The device, which is known as the DIR-412, takes a wireless USB modem and shares that connection over 802.11 b/g/n.

This is a great way to make the most of your $60 3G data access plan.  However with the 5GB per month cap on most plans you’ll need to make sure you don’t share your wireless connection with just anyone.