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Sprint Advertises 4G Overdrive Hotspot Device Using iPhone

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Boy Genius Report this weekend noted that Sprint has released a new television commercial using Apple's iPhone to promote the carrier's new Overdrive 3G/4G mobile hotspot device. The commercial claims that connecting an iPhone to Sprint's 4G network via the Overdrive hotspot can achieve speeds up to ten times higher than that available through AT&T's 3G network.
My friend Steve's iPhone is cool, but it's limited to AT&T's 3G speeds. So I'm gonna use the Overdrive 4G mobile hotspot to make it up to ten times faster.
Click to expand...
Verizon has similarly been viewing the iPad as an opportunity to promote its MiFi service, another of the growing number of small devices capable of creating local Wi-Fi networks by connecting to carriers' cellular networks.

Sprint, Clearwire, and a consortium of other broadband and technology companies have been working together to deploy WiMAX technology, which is being branded as 4G service, around the United States. The move comes ahead of the rollout of 4G LTE services, which will be built upon existing 3G networks, by providers such as AT&T, Apple's current U.S. partner for the iPhone.

Article Link: Sprint Advertises 4G Overdrive Hotspot Device Using iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/03/22/sprint-advertises-4g-overdrive-hotspot-device-using-iphone/
how much does this thing cost per month? Would it be cheaper to go with an iphone without a data plan and this?

Well nevermind! Turns out that you can only get it in a teenie, tiny ammount of cities.
 
This is awesome! There's absolutely nothing wrong with a little competition.

Actually this device had made me decide not to hold out for the 3G iPad. Being a MIFI user (soon to roll to Sprint), why do I need a rate plan for every device I own?

Also makes a good backup gateway if/when the broadband is out at the house.
 
DoNoHarm said:
how much does this thing cost per month? Would it be cheaper to go with an iphone without a data plan and this?

Well nevermind! Turns out that you can only get it in a teenie, tiny ammount of cities.
Click to expand...

This device will use 3G as well (if 4G is unavailable). You're just limited to 5GB of 3G data (4G is unlimited). Plan is $60 /month.

I believe it's not possible to have an iPhone with AT&T and not pay the $30/month for data. So it seems to me that the only options are to pay $90/month (ouch) or jailbreak and use T-Mobile for voice. Neither of which I'm willing to do. What's appealing though is that I could use this for my iPhone, iPad and MBP.

I think I'll stick with $30/month for my iPhone and $15/month for the iPad (when needed).
 
DoNoHarm said:
how much does this thing cost per month? Would it be cheaper to go with an iphone without a data plan and this?
Click to expand...


Looks like you, too, can own one for only $150 (before $50 MIR) and only $59.99 per month for a 2 year plan!

Pass.
 
Hmmmm...

A good friend of mine who is very tech savvy just informed me he is on his 3RD Overdrive since he started service last month. Geeeez.
 
DoNoHarm said:
how much does this thing cost per month? Would it be cheaper to go with an iphone without a data plan and this?

Well nevermind! Turns out that you can only get it in a teenie, tiny ammount of cities.
Click to expand...

Can you opt for no data on AT&T plan for iPhone?

I'm trying to understand because i'm on Tmo with my 2g.
 
<<palm executive sees commercial>>

WHAT?!?!

VZ and Sprint can no longer deny Apple's prowess. Now they're catering to it.
 
That makes no since

So someone who has an iphone is allready paying $30 for the data plan, and Sprint thinks they would pay an extra $60 bucks for 3G/4G device?

HaHa, you got be kidding me!

(yes I know that you can hook it up to other wifi capable devices)
 
Competition is good!

As one of the other posts says... Competition is good. Every time AT&T loses revenues to it's competitors, it is forced to consider the ramifications and the alternatives. I hope Sprint, Verizon, and the rest keep the pressure up.
 
dwhittington said:
A good friend of mine who is very tech savvy just informed me he is on his 3RD Overdrive since he started service last month. Geeeez.
Click to expand...

Yea haven't heard great things about the Overdrive but I'm pretty sure Sprint will get a better device in the next year or so.
 
Once the original contract period ends which has a price factoring in a discount on hardware, you can have an iPhone with no data plan. I have one. You can have a paygo data plan.

I sincerely hope the iPad secretly has 4G LTE capability, which can be enabled a couple of months after release of the hardware.

Rocketman
 
The smallprint at the bottom of the ad says that expected speeds are 4-6 Mb/s. How does Sprint get away with calling it "4G" when you can get those speeds with HSPA (3G)?
 
I'm with Sprint and live in a city that has 4G, but I'm not paying another $60 a month for 4G. I know it makes no money for Sprint, but it sucks that I'm paying for an unlimited data plan already and can't tap into that with these mobile hotspots. My contract is up in about a year, so if there is no CDMA iPhone for Sprint (which is highly unlikely), I'll look into moving to whoever is carrying it at the time.

I liked the commercial. It both highlighted their new product and asked Apple nicely to let them have the iPhone.
 
Nermal said:
The smallprint at the bottom of the ad says that expected speeds are 4-6 Mb/s. How does Sprint get away with calling it "4G" when you can get those speeds with HSPA (3G)?
Click to expand...
Because just like with many other specs....these are theoretical max's that they talk about.

rwilliams said:
I'm with Sprint and live in a city that has 4G, but I'm not paying another $60 a month for 4G. I know it makes no money for Sprint, but it sucks that I'm paying for an unlimited data plan already and can't tap into that with these mobile hotspots. My contract is up in about a year, so if there is no CDMA iPhone for Sprint (which is highly unlikely), I'll look into moving to whoever is carrying it at the time.

I liked the commercial. It both highlighted their new product and asked Apple nicely to let them have the iPhone.
Click to expand...

I didn't see it as much (esp. with the whle "eating the apple bit" which maybe i was looking into to hard but i saw that as a tiny dig.)

Instead it was, ok we get it, you love your iPhones...but check out what we have on our network that could complement you.
 
Cannot wait until someone takes AT&T to court so that iPhone users can use the data service of their choice. This is a far, far more useful device than my iPhone data connection which STILL cannot be tethered to my laptop.
 
I'm sick of phone companies talking in terms of theoretical speeds... theoretically, I could fall through the earth right now and never be seen of again. Is it going to happen? Probably not: my atoms and the atoms below me won't ever hit that infinitesimally small chance of aligning just right to allow it to happen. But is it theoretically possible? You betcha. :rolleyes:

I've never reached theoretical speeds on an iPhone.... ever.
 
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