Turned my iPod Touch into a poor mans iPhone (aka my Freedompop review)

[cnev3]

For those who haven't heard of freedompop, basically if your area has it available, you can pay a $100 refundable deposit on the mobile hotspot device, and you get 500mb of 4G internet a month for free. You can pay extra per MB if you go over, or you can upgrade to a 4GB plan for $30 a month. I am starting out with the free 500mb plan.

I spent this afternoon testing it out. I basically listened to several music streaming apps (pandora, turntable, songza) on my iPod, while I cycled for 3 hours and 52 miles.



For me, the connection was reliable and steady. It didn't drop. Speed isnt terribly fast 1.5mb down, 250kb up. But its sufficient for most tasks. I even did a facetime call with my gf and both our audio was clear, and our video was smooth.

I don't know how long the battery life is on a full charge, and how good the connection is in different areas or hours, but so far, so good.

The device is thin, compact, and very, very light. You should be able to fit it, and the iPod Touch together in even the smallest of pockets comfortably.

It has just about all the adjustable settings that a home router has. You can log into it from any web browser and configure it the same way.

I don't know if the free 500MB a month allowance will be enough for me. If not, I may upgrade.

I definitely recommend this for people who have freedompop available for their area and want to make their iPod Touch a poor mans iPhone.

[Fresh Pie]

For some reason, I think this is an incredibly neat concept. Let me get one thing straight, though: you paid $100 for the device itself, which will provide 500mb of data per month for free by default? So just by owning the device, you have data available, right?

If so, I would definitely get one.

[akuma13]

I've tried to do this with freedom pop unfortunately I have very spotty service at home and I don't find the speeds fast enough for me when I'm in the city.

[cnev3]

Originally Posted by Fresh Pie

For some reason, I think this is an incredibly neat concept. Let me get one thing straight, though: you paid $100 for the device itself, which will provide 500mb of data per month for free by default? So just by owning the device, you have data available, right?

If so, I would definitely get one.

Yes, the 500mb data is free. And anytime I decide to stop using the service, I will have the $100 refunded to me when I send the device back (assuming it is not damaged or broken).

They are able to provide the 500mb plan for free because they make money from overages, extra features, and premium plans. Which are all optional.

[Bob Coxner]

It's buried deep in the terms of service but there are a number of reasons you may not get your $100 back. For one thing, you don't get it after 1 year of service:

http://www.freedompop.com/service_plan_terms.htm

If we collect a deposit from you and you terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service (or we terminate your subscription other than for your breach of these Terms), we will refund the deposit (less any amounts that you owe to us) to your registered payment method within 90 days after the date on which you return the Equipment to us, on condition that: (a) FreedomPop is still actively providing the same Equipment to users of the Broadband Service; (b) you (or we) terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service within 1 year of the start date of your subscription; and (c) you return all Equipment to us (at your expense) within 30 days of the date on which either: (i) you notify us that you wish to terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service; or (ii) we notify you that we are terminating your subscription to the Broadband Service

You're also responsible for the cost of returning it.

"To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you are responsible for paying all shipping, insurance and any other costs in connection with your return of Equipment for any reason."

Also, most of Freedompop's service is Wimax, with a few areas of LTE. Sprint is steadily turning off Wimax and Clearwire (Wimax provider) is bankrupt. There won't be any Wimax in the near future.

Enjoy it while it's still working and hope to get your money back when it stops!

[cnev3]

Originally Posted by Bob Coxner

It's buried deep in the terms of service but there are a number of reasons you may not get your $100 back. For one thing, you don't get it after 1 year of service:

http://www.freedompop.com/service_plan_terms.htm

If we collect a deposit from you and you terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service (or we terminate your subscription other than for your breach of these Terms), we will refund the deposit (less any amounts that you owe to us) to your registered payment method within 90 days after the date on which you return the Equipment to us, on condition that: (a) FreedomPop is still actively providing the same Equipment to users of the Broadband Service; (b) you (or we) terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service within 1 year of the start date of your subscription; and (c) you return all Equipment to us (at your expense) within 30 days of the date on which either: (i) you notify us that you wish to terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service; or (ii) we notify you that we are terminating your subscription to the Broadband Service

You're also responsible for the cost of returning it.

"To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you are responsible for paying all shipping, insurance and any other costs in connection with your return of Equipment for any reason."

Also, most of Freedompop's service is Wimax, with a few areas of LTE. Sprint is steadily turning off Wimax and Clearwire (Wimax provider) is bankrupt. There won't be any Wimax in the near future.

Enjoy it while it's still working and hope to get your money back when it stops!

Having the service for 1 year is not an issue since it can be free if needed. If the company does go out of business, or they try to pull some funny business, I paid it with my credit card, and they have been really good about refunding my purchases when sketchy things happen.

[spyguy10709]

Originally Posted by Bob Coxner

It's buried deep in the terms of service but there are a number of reasons you may not get your $100 back. For one thing, you don't get it after 1 year of service:

http://www.freedompop.com/service_plan_terms.htm

If we collect a deposit from you and you terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service (or we terminate your subscription other than for your breach of these Terms), we will refund the deposit (less any amounts that you owe to us) to your registered payment method within 90 days after the date on which you return the Equipment to us, on condition that: (a) FreedomPop is still actively providing the same Equipment to users of the Broadband Service; (b) you (or we) terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service within 1 year of the start date of your subscription; and (c) you return all Equipment to us (at your expense) within 30 days of the date on which either: (i) you notify us that you wish to terminate your subscription to the Broadband Service; or (ii) we notify you that we are terminating your subscription to the Broadband Service

You're also responsible for the cost of returning it.

"To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you are responsible for paying all shipping, insurance and any other costs in connection with your return of Equipment for any reason."

Also, most of Freedompop's service is Wimax, with a few areas of LTE. Sprint is steadily turning off Wimax and Clearwire (Wimax provider) is bankrupt. There won't be any Wimax in the near future.

Enjoy it while it's still working and hope to get your money back when it stops!

Sprint is NOT turning ANY WiMAX towers off until 2015, and Clearwire was purchased by Sprint. (Source - I'm a shareholder of Sprint)

[InuNacho]

Looks neat, they have one for my area and the advertised device is an iPod Touch 4th Gen sleeve. I might consider a 5th gen case as I think the 5th gen is a little to slick for my hands.