Sprint Makes Mobile 3G/4G Hotspot Official $100, with two year contract... Confirming previous leaks, Sprint has unveiled their new Mobile hotspot, which will work on both the company's EVDO and Mobile WiMax networks. Dubbed the Overdrive, a Sprint press statement says the device can feed up to five hungry Wi-Fi users simultaneously, and comes with a MicroSD slot, LCD status display, 3 hour battery life (36 standby) and an 150 foot range. The device costs $99.99, assuming you're willing to sign a new two year contract with Sprint (you'll of course have to be wary of their 5 GB bandwidth cap). Of course with CES in full swing this week, you can expect the unveiling of a flurry of new mobile hotspots, including two new devices from Cradlepoint. Just keep your eyes on the road.
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 | | per month cost? download cap? battery life? per month cost? download cap? battery life? | |
|  |  kapilThe Kapil
join:2000-04-26
Chicago, IL | Re: per month cost? download cap? battery life? The device is $150 up-front, $50 mail in rebate = $100 final cost with a 2 year data plan agreement.
The 3g/4g combo plan from Sprint is $59.99, which includes 5GB of 3g data transfer and "unlimited" "4g"/WiMax....the device tries to find a WiMax signal first and switches to EVDO automatically as and when needed.
The device should also work on similar 3g/4g combo plans from Clear and Comcast. All plans, including the Sprint one, uses Clear WiMax and Sprint EVDO but the Clear and Comcast plans don't cap the 3g or the 4g while the Sprint one has the 5Gb limit on 3g.
Battery life is good for 5-24 hours of use, depending on how many devices are connected, how much data is transferred etc.
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»www.VoIPTrunk.com | |
| | | iSEPIC
join:2001-04-17
Las Vegas, NV | Re: per month cost? download cap? battery life? There is a cap on 3G even when purchasing through Clear:
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| | | kmand
join:2002-05-06
Decatur, GA | said by kapil:The device should also work on similar 3g/4g combo plans from Clear and Comcast. I used the Cradelpoint device that Clear sells on Comcast. It worked since you just plug in the Comcast issued USB modem. I don't see how this would work with the Sprint "Overdrive" hotspot, since it uses an embedded modem. As far as I know Comcast is not set up to register modems they haven't issued.
I gave up on the Cradlepoint. With the usb modem its beyond pocket size, and the battery doesn't do much better than an hour. The "Overdrive" would fit the bill, if there was some way to buy it without a Sprint account, and use it on Comcast.
(Comcast only charges $30/month for no limit 4G (only) service). | |
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| |  For integrity's sake...
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| | disc
join:2005-12-31
Raleigh, NC | Re: For integrity's sake... Yes, that's pretty important. I use VZ 3G mobile broadband service and I come close to 5GB every month. I'd blow through 5GB no problem on 4G. | |
| | | | | Re: For integrity's sake... Alas, it appears accuracy was not a priority...  | |
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| | | | Re: If Wimax available in your area; good home service tool Kinda redundant to use it for a cellphone tk no? Since your using a cellphone service for a cellphone... tru the 4G is a nice boost in speed over some phones but 4G coverage is so limited...
Id use that for my laptop though... | |
| | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 | Wonder if you can hook up an antenna...2.4 GHz grid might be close enough to 2.5 to pull a signal better. | |
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| | Good Ol' Sierra Wireless... ...does it again. Dual mode GOBI broadband cards in netbooks, now this little sucker. Can't wati till they make it HSPA+/EVDO/EVDO Rev B/WiMax/LTE on all EVDO, WiMax, LTE and HSPA bands I/II/IV/VIII, alll on one chip stuck in every bloody device on the planet. | |
| iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 Reviews:
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Comcast
| Nice deal if you can get WiMAX This basically sets the precedent for a higher-end DSL speed connection in WiMAX coverage areas (let's call that home) and a lower-end DL connection on the road via EvDO...for a flat monthly fee ($60) because you can take your internet with you. Going on a trip? Unplug and go...and you don't have to pay two internet bills, one for mobile broadband and one for fixed broadband.
Now some may argue that speeds on WiMAX with Clear aren't blisteringly fast, but for most folks they'll be just fine, provided they can get a good signal. So I'd expect the devices to sell pretty well once the combined 3G + 4G Sprint plan comes out at $60.
FWIW Sierra Wireless owns CradlePoint, and has for awhile now, so if you're wondering about the stability of the hardware it's gonna be rock-solid. CradlePoint knows how to build excellent routers (if my experience with a CTR350 a few days ago was any indication) and I'm sur ethis will be no exception. | |
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1 edit | So where is the 4G? Out of the 4 largest cities in the country- New York, LA, Chicago, and Houston- Who has Sprint 4G service up and running? I have seen lots of very small towns like Longview, TX get 4G but I have yet to hear of any large cities besides Atlanta and Baltimore get the service. | |
| | | | Re: So where is the 4G? Im in Chicago and have had Clear for a little over 2 months now and for the price you cant beat it. The coverage is fairly consistent and Im about to pull between 2-6 Mbps down and 1Mbps going up. I didnt go with Sprint, because I didnt need the 3G EVDO when I travel. The speeds that I have seen are consistent and very stable. | |
| | | | New York, LA and Houston are being worked on. They have several larger cities around the country too. St. Louis is also being worked on and they have job openings for retail managers, maybe a sign that they are close to going live. | |
| | | | | Re: So where is the 4G? said by kem09030:New York, LA and Houston are being worked on. They have several larger cities around the country too. St. Louis is also being worked on and they have job openings for retail managers, maybe a sign that they are close to going live. Any idea how long it'll be before st. louis is up? When that day comes and if I am in the 4g coverage area look for a guy doing backflips...that'll be me! No dsl or cable at my location. I use millenicom/sprint unlimited but it tops out at 1.2 mbps.... | |
| | | |  tiger72SexaT duorPPremium
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 | Re: So where is the 4G? I'm also glad to hear this!
I think it would be great to be able to switch off my DSL (uggghhh- ATT) and just use WiMax for my home downloads, as well as during my travels. | |
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| | its a fancied-up router--big deal all this device seems to do is act as an access point. i have my sprint service/sierra wireless card (598U) wirelessly transmitted out from an SMC access point (SMC2655W) and anyone within range has wireless internet access. I already have and unlimited data plan (the old contract w/no cap). so i really dont see the big deal. | |
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If Wimax available in your area; good home service tool
