According to Sprint, the 3G plan is the same as the 4G/3G plan - they are both $60/mo. The MiFi itself is cheaper.
Now if the Overdrive works ok, I would opt for that if I traveled even if I did not currently have 4G in my area.
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Sprint Advertises 4G Overdrive Hotspot Device Using iPhone
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According to Sprint, the 3G plan is the same as the 4G/3G plan - they are both $60/mo. The MiFi itself is cheaper.
Now if the Overdrive works ok, I would opt for that if I traveled even if I did not currently have 4G in my area.
Anybody else notice the subtle jabs? The iPhone guy's name is Steve, and at the end the other guy takes a bite out of an Apple. Zing!
So technically, you can buy an iphone, and with using skype, make phonecalls using 4G. Hmmm... Who needs AT&T?!
I see this happening right after someone takes Microsoft to court because they don't want to pay so much for their XBox Live plan....
If the Overdrive was a bit cheaper I'd consider having an Overdrive and an iPod Touch, and maybe try to get away with using Google Voice for my phone service. What is the Overdrive, $10 cheaper per month? At that point you might as well get an iPhone for the sake of convenience. If AT&T is selling 3G service unlimited on the iPad for $30 a month, I'd expect Overdrive 4G device to be something around $40 per month, not doubled at $60.
I am a very frugal man usually...
Taxes aside, the 64GB iPad 3G w/ the Unlimited Data Plan and an Overdrive cost almost exactly the same amount over 2 years when you factor in the cost of the device. It's not the same as going out and buying a cheap Wifi card for your laptop. In fact, the Overdrive is useless without a second device to pair it with for internet access.
Aggressive
Needlessly aggressive to bite a huge chunk out of an apple. Besides, this isn't about taking a bite out of Apple, but out of AT&T. Chowing down on a blue and white striped cupcake or sucking on a blue and white chupa chup might have been more to the point. Cheers.
Needlessly aggressive to bite a huge chunk out of an apple. Besides, this isn't about taking a bite out of Apple, but out of AT&T. Chowing down on a blue and white striped cupcake or sucking on a blue and white chupa chup might have been more to the point. Cheers.
1st Post Here but long time lurker - I love this site, btw...lol
So anyway I needed to respond on this because unless you need the 3G service from Sprint you gotta be crazy to get this thing. $150 before rebate and $60/mo to get 3G when you already have 3G, again, unless you need Sprint 3G. As far as the 4G you have to be in 4G Service area.
Now the reason I say all of this is because I come with experience with this 4G thing.
I have been doing this with my iPhone for what seems forever, it's not but it feels like it. I own a 1st gen iPhone and a 3GS and I connect everyday over 4G service. No, not through AT&T or thru Sprint but through Clear - Sprints Partner. I can get two services: 2 USB or Home & USB for $55 month all 4G and all unlimited. The USB combined with their ClearSpot gives you exactly what you are getting with Sprint but no 3G, but you already have 3G....don't you?? Unless, again, you require Sprint's 3G service.
Anyway, to me, this is a much better buy.
Well thats about it. If you are in a Clear 4G Service area then your also in a Sprint 4G service area (they use the same towers AFAIK) this is the better option, IMO, more bang for your buck.
Anyway I hope this helps some looking into this and don't see the need to duplicate 3G service and are looking only for the Unlimited 4G service.
-DJ Al B Bad
So anyway I needed to respond on this because unless you need the 3G service from Sprint you gotta be crazy to get this thing. $150 before rebate and $60/mo to get 3G when you already have 3G, again, unless you need Sprint 3G. As far as the 4G you have to be in 4G Service area.
Now the reason I say all of this is because I come with experience with this 4G thing.
I have been doing this with my iPhone for what seems forever, it's not but it feels like it. I own a 1st gen iPhone and a 3GS and I connect everyday over 4G service. No, not through AT&T or thru Sprint but through Clear - Sprints Partner. I can get two services: 2 USB or Home & USB for $55 month all 4G and all unlimited. The USB combined with their ClearSpot gives you exactly what you are getting with Sprint but no 3G, but you already have 3G....don't you?? Unless, again, you require Sprint's 3G service.
Anyway, to me, this is a much better buy.
- 2 devices
- $55/mo
- Unlimited 4G
- No wasted $$ on 3G duplication
- Tested and works with 1st Gen - 3GS Iphone and iTouch as well as other mobile devices and home computers
- Purchase or lease device (w/credit approval)
Well thats about it. If you are in a Clear 4G Service area then your also in a Sprint 4G service area (they use the same towers AFAIK) this is the better option, IMO, more bang for your buck.
Anyway I hope this helps some looking into this and don't see the need to duplicate 3G service and are looking only for the Unlimited 4G service.
-DJ Al B Bad
I like how they advertise it for the iPhone, yet I can't view www.sprint.com/4g on my iPhone (or potential iPad) because the entire page is flash based.
LOL @ taking a bite of an Apple and the guy's name being Steve.
I only pray that Apple gets the ball rolling with a new iPhone/iPhone OS 4.0 and some more iPad features!
I only pray that Apple gets the ball rolling with a new iPhone/iPhone OS 4.0 and some more iPad features!
Sprint's 4G is a hoax... LTE is 4G and all companies that say they have 4G right now is just a marketing ploy to get you thinking they're cutting-edge, etc...etc.
But, nonetheless, I would like to see some speed tests?
How much is this per month?
But, nonetheless, I would like to see some speed tests?
How much is this per month?
I am keen on all this. I know pre commercials even push it as a mifi device.
I hope AT&T wakes up to the competition in this area, as I think this is the real future.
Instead of having multiple devices with individual wireless radios, you will just have multiple wifi devices, with a mifi device to manage them wherever you are.
I know it is potentially an extra device to carry around when you only have your phone, but if they are ultimately small enough to be easily in your pocket then who cares.
Then when technology changes and such, all you need to do is upgrade your mifi device, and not each of your other devices. Just seems like a cleaner all around better solution.
AT&T is seemingly way behind in this area though. Of course they could fix that by allowing iPhones to be mifi devices.
I hope AT&T wakes up to the competition in this area, as I think this is the real future.
Instead of having multiple devices with individual wireless radios, you will just have multiple wifi devices, with a mifi device to manage them wherever you are.
I know it is potentially an extra device to carry around when you only have your phone, but if they are ultimately small enough to be easily in your pocket then who cares.
Then when technology changes and such, all you need to do is upgrade your mifi device, and not each of your other devices. Just seems like a cleaner all around better solution.
AT&T is seemingly way behind in this area though. Of course they could fix that by allowing iPhones to be mifi devices.
Sprint 4G is WiMax. AT&T 4G is LTE.
Most mobile phone companies are going with LTE, though there is plenty of support for WiMax as well. So Apple will definitely be putting LTE support in to their mobile devices at some point. The big question is when and whether there will be WiMax support as well.
That is exactly what my dad did. He lives in PA for 1/2 the year and FL during the winter. He was paying outrageous Cable fee..so he ended up canceling his cable web for both homes & bought the Sprint MiFi. $60/mo for unlimited data was much cheaper than paying for cable in both houses & has a completely portable devise. I used it when I was visiting him in FL just last week and the speed was really quite impressive!
What he said...WiMax and LTE are competing formats....WiMax is a joint venture with Sprint and Clearwire.
As usually, Sprint hustles their ass off when it comes to data network and got their 4G network up and running first (go read the some Engadgets stories about Sprints 4G network in Las Vegas for the CES show)....however I can't see this leaving them in a good spot when everyone else is using LTE in america.
Though I believe Clearwire is looking to make the networks interpretable.
Oh snap...for some reason i thought it was $40...my bad.
Yeah if you are the person to make sure of this the Overdrive makes sense if the price is the same.
As with all networks, location determines service strength...buy accordingly.
And this is the first i hear of 300MB roaming limit. When i'm in mountain areas i'm roaming on Verizon and using data all day....not sure if its hit 300MB but i've never had an issue.
I'm in an area that Sprint's damn-near-unusable coverage map shows as having coverage. It's very borderline. That could be down to the device, but regardless the only way to really know what was going to work or not was to try it.
Sprint 4G worked wonderfully at the one location I didn't need it!
As for the roaming limit ... it's in the contract.
Sprint (they're not alone) have had roaming limits for as long as I remember. For phones it was if you spent more than 50% of your time roaming for any two consecutive months they reserved the right to terminate your contract.
Back then I was ALWAYS roaming at home, so it was useless.
The areas I would use a MiFi/OverDrive in for 3G are fully covered now, but that 300MB upstream limit makes that useless, and the 4G coverage is borderline even though I'm in the Seattle area. Again, that could be the device, but since that's what they offer it's not useful.
I agree - I would prefer to have as few "monthly fees" as possible or at least get good use out of those that I do. This would be a great device if you could pay for service "a la carte" like the iPad. I only really would use this device when traveling...
I really think apple should buy tmobile USA. It would give them a huge competitive advantage particularly with the industry going towards mobile computing.
Most phone manufacturers make "exclusive" phones for different carriers. It's not something that is illegal or unjustified. It wouldn't make sense to take AT&T to court.
Exactly. I've been waiting for WiMAX for this reason. All the people slamming this are not thinking beyond the cell phone. Instead think of potentially dumping cable and finally getting some real competition for the pipe that goes into your house. Eventually a company will 'figure it out' and offer a data plan that works where ever you happen to be for a single price.