iSpot Mobile 4G Hot Spot by Clearwire
You probably didn’t think your iPad or iPhone could get even faster speeds than 3G? Guess again, my friends! This hotspot device isn’t from Apple or on AT&T's 3G network. It’s from Clear and it’s 4G on their WIMAX network. Clearwire Corp. (CLWR) unveiled its iSpot mobile hot spot product with dedicated support for Apple's line of mobile devices, including the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. So what is the difference between 3G vs 4G and why you might want to consider it as AT&T stopped offering all you can eat data plans?
The iSpot will be available beginning Aug. 10 for $100 (or for $30 if ordered today on August 4, 2010), allows for up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled Apple products using wireless data services on Clearwire's WiMAX 4G network. (The carrier offers other “Spot” devices for non-Apple products.) Data rate plans (no voice) for the device run $25 per month for unlimited access at network speeds up to 6 megabits per second on the downlink and 1 Mbps on the uplink. No contract is required for the service and the WiMAX 4G service is currently available in 49 markets following the recent launch of five new markets this week. Clearwire coverage maps have indicated plans to cover 120 million cell towers with its WiMAX network by the end of the year.
iSpot provides Wi-Fi coverage up to 150 feet away. As with any Wi-Fi network, your coverage may be affected by obstructions such as buildings and doors, terrain and foliage, weather and atmospheric conditions, and other factors. iSpot was built and optimized by CLEAR for Apple mobile devices (although Apple isn’t likely to tell you that). If you want to experience the same kind of tummy-twisting speed on your laptops, cameras, or other smartphones, there are some sweet Spot products that will make you very happy. Not sure what we think of this but sounds kind of strange considering the devices are using the same Wi-Fi standards.
Here is a video of Apple's products running through one of iSpot mobile's hot spot devices providing faster data speeds in a mobile environment compared with an iPhone running on AT&T Mobility's 3G network.
