New Sprint ad shows iPhone using WiMAX... via Overdrive
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Your existing iPhone (yeah, even the original) can surf the information superhighway at 4G speeds. Today. Who knew, right? Sprint's Overdrive -- which creates a WiFi hotspot that enables nearby devices to cruise on Clear's 4G (or 3G, if you're not in a 4G locale) network -- can theoretically enable any WiFi-capable phone to surf on WiMAX, but Sprint's taking a pretty bold approach by actually touting the feature in a new spot. Befuddled? Hop on past the break and mash play. Too bad this is about as close the iPhone will ever get to Sprint's shelves...
See more video at our hub!
And too bad they cap your access.
@juanvaldez and charge $60/month
@juanvaldez Only if there were an edit button...this would be so compelling on iPad if it weren't for the two posts above. Save money by buying the overdrive instead of the 3G version of the iPad and use this. But monthly cap, price and limited 4g access...eh...maybe once its a more competitive marketplace.
@juanvaldez actually Sprint 4G has no data access caps... only the 3G portion of the Overdrive...
I use the Overdrive as my primary internet access, and love it..I'm in Charlotte, NC so i have 4G speeds...
Sprint Charges the same for 4G/3G service as they do for 3G only service, so instead of the Verizon MiFI get the Sprint Overdrive even if 4G isn't in your city.and when it becomes available, or you travel to a 4G city you can have access to it...
And according to this article here: http://bit.ly/bsp5Z5
Clearwire(the company building Sprint's 4G network) has a lot of capacity, and room to grow!
@juanvaldez
There is no cap for 4G service... I use Sprint's 4G service as my internet service provider, and love it.... i regularly use 15 gigs per month( i stream a lot of content on my roku)....
Sprint also charges the same price per month for 4G/3G service as 3G only service, so one should get the Sprint Overdrive, instead of the Sprint/Verizon MiFi so that if you go to a place that has 4G service you can have access to it, or when 4G comes to your city...
Also, Clearwire has plenty of capicity and room to grow(according to this article:http://bit.ly/bsp5Z5) Clearwire is the company building Sprint's 4G network...
@steveymacjr shoot, oops..i thought my previous post didn't make it... the page just kinda froze..oh well sorry for double posting.
@juanvaldez
Not sure about your math there. You have the same data plan costs and restrictions either way, it's just a matter of whether the savings from buying the wifi version is more or less than he cost of the Overdrive. Even if it comes out around equal, with the Overdrive you have the flexibility to 4G enable any (and multiple) wifi devices.
Who the hell wants an iPad?
@juanvaldez
actually your wrong , 4g network access is unlimited.
And it is capped on 3g network, industry standard of 5 gb a month.
And it is industry standard of 60 a month, (other carriers only have 3g is the only difference)
@tonicboy Perhaps I was unclear, but the math is simple and accurate. $60 data plan on Sprint, $30 data plan on AT&T.; The Overdrive costs $100 after $50 rebate, the iPad adds $130 if you add a 3G radio so you save $30 by getting an overdrive.
Stevymacjr made a good correction, the 4G is unlimited unlike their 3G cap of 5GB. However, with the limited access of 4G this isn't a solution for most of AT&T;'s coverage area.
What I forgot to mention though is this'll also lock you into a 2 year contract though in many usage scenarios not as debilitating as a cell-phone contract.
@Addidis First your saying something some else already said and yes, I was wrong, but this is still limited to their very limited coverage area. Additionally, my point was that this would be a greater solution for the iPad than the iPhone if you didn't have to pay an double your monthly data charges compared to the iPad data plan. Remember, that is what their marketing angle in this ad was. Despite that, the 4G would be compelling for the iPad due to speeds, flexibility of the Overdrive; but the 2 year contract and battery life IIRC are definite drawbacks....
There's more to say but it's starting to getting off topic, especially from my original post.
@juanvaldez Hmmm, it's a $130 difference between the iPad without the 3G modem which is more than the $99 cost for Sprint Overdrive with a two-year contract. On the other hand, AT&T;'s 3G plan is $30/month while Sprint's 4G plan is $60/month. I guess you have to ask yourself whether Sprint's 4.5 Mbit/sec average download speed is worth it over AT&T;'s 1.5Mbit/sec average download speed if you're in one of the areas lucky enough to have 4G coverage.
@steveymacjr
sure but hows the battery life like on the Overdrive?
Can I have it running ALL day long with multiple devices accessing it quite often?
@juanvaldez
wow, they charge you for it? is that why they're advertising?
*baffled...
@juanvaldez
then this device isn't for you... it's for mobile people that has multiple devices capable of wifi. why are you comparing the $30 ipad only plan to $60... at&t; provides a usb 3g device to connect to your laptop and that's $60/month. For people that live in a 4g area it can be there @ home internet access as well if they don't need a lot of bandwidth.
now if you only used an IPAD then i can see your point.
@neoelectrex my boss
as much as i hate him i cannot help but feel sorry for him
@steveymacjr
jailbroken 3gs + cydia + mywi = 2280 kilobits sec for FREE
@trunksy
Its a good idea if you're using the data card for something else then the iPhone/iPad etc.. If its being used as what its intent for mobile broadband laptops, etc.. Then this is a real good fringe benefit.
@juanvaldez
Actually, if you already have a Simply Everything phone with Sprint, adding the unlimited data for this device is significantly less expensive.
Just sayin.
CharlesJR
@rellyloki
Stop spamming your damn bit.ly website. It's the same blog that you always spam.
The person behind you just creates a new person and each time posts the bit.ly link. Get a life and quit spamming.
@CharlesJR It's not the same cost if you're already a Sprint customer?
@trunksy
I apologize.
SPRINT has plans called Simply Everything. For one line, its $99. Every other line after that is $89. You can add another DATA ONLY line to those plans for around $50. I have two MIFI's using this option. I also use a Palm Pre and just haven't wanted to mess around with the side loading the "non approved" tethering program you can get for it.
My bad. Sorry for the confusion.
CharlesJR
@neoelectrex Stephen Colbert
@juanvaldez and that's why the iPhone has hit a plateau and may even start losing market share... Sticking to AT&T; is dumb
@juanvaldez
I haven't noticed any data restri
@juanvaldez
Sprint plans tend to cost $30 less than comparable AT&T; plans since AT&T; plans don't include the data and texting. By switching your phone plan over to Sprint you also knock an additional $10 off the monthly cost of an Overdrive MiFi data plan. So now it's really only $20 extra monthly to get those 4G speeds for your iPad and iPod Touch and three other WiFi devices. Pretty sweet Sprint deal when you compare it to a small $15 bucket or $30 unlimited bucket of AT&T; 3G data that is only good for use on your iPad. Sprint really is the best deal in wireless.
@juanvaldez
There's a reason AT&T; makes it so hard to find their pricing on their website. Because they want to hide it.
@juanvaldez
Really? America gets screwed on phone plans.
@juanvaldez Other brand computation: The $140 thing fits in your pocket, runs for four hours on a lithium-ion battery, connects up to 8 laptops via Wi-Fi, and works like a charm when you're in a decent WiMax coverage area. (You still need to connect a WiMax modem, which costs $50 and requires a data plan.) Clear WiMax: http://bit.ly/wimax-clear-impressions
@steveymacjr
How is the ping on 4G? I'm thinking about dumping my landline and going all wireless when 4G hits here in May.
@abedinthehouse Yes. It's a femtocell. It's sole purpose is to act as an AP/router, doling out 3G/WiMax over WiFi. If the battery life sucked, it would be worthless. In the future, everyone who can't get access to fiber will have a femotcell in their house multi-casting VoIP/TVoIP & Internet. It was originally developed as a "last mile" tech for these situations, but its application as a mobile hotspot are arguably as compelling.
Cool
This isn't getting sprint anywhere plus the commercial sucks and is slow and boring meh...
One of my friends has this thing, it's actually pretty legit. I still prefer the Verizon MiFi over this one though
@mtnDewFTW Why? You prefer 3G over 4G?
@felipedeeznuts More coverage
@mtnDewFTW true dat.
Isn't WiMAX dead? Go for LTE please, worldwide.
@Liberty
WiMax dead? LTE isn't even alive yet. I'm not going to argue merits, but only one of them is even available right now, and it's not LTE.
@pbd It's alive and well in Stockholm, and it's pushing 40Mbit+
@r3loaded
meanwhile WiMAX is alive and well covering nearly 1 billion people.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/02/17/wimax-growth-in-the-us-lags-worldwide-growth-explodes/
@r3loaded
for YEARS i've been highly jealous of internet speed and access in parts of europe. i'm afraid it will take decades for north america (especially Canada under it's current government) to catch up. :-(
@Darkroom
Go here to help: http://www.broadband.gov/
Speed test to better broadband in the USA.
Heh heh... I like their portrayal of AT&T;'s signal strength :)
@DingoJunior
Lolz.. I didn't notice that at first. haha!
@DingoJunior They also took a "big bite" out of an "Apple".
@DingoJunior : LOL, I noticed that and lol'ed and was coming here to post it... you beat me to it.
@DingoJunior Want 4G speeds? There's a mobile hotspot for that.
I bet that apple tasted good.
@TheSeanWilson LOL. I see what you did right thar.