http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/ Engadget Comments for Sprint Overdrive dual-mode WiMAX / EV-DO mobile hotspot leaks into the wild (update: $50 U301 on contract?) http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Dec 30th 2009 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Dec 30th 2009 10:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/You don't know what you're talking about.

Sprint hasn't officially allowed tethering of any kind (aka Phone as Modem or PAM) for a long time on most handsets, but if you can find a way around it by rooting and or installing third party apps you are more than welcome to just as long as you don't consistently go over your 5GB cap. This is the way it will be for the foreseeable future, as there's no reason to invest time and money to chase down a very small set of violators and on the flip-side, if they make it part of a plan it increases the likelihood for billing errors (the whole Simply Everything Plan push was done to simplify billing so there wouldn't be 1000 different plan options out there in the system). Since billing errors are typically one of the biggest reasons people call customer care, anything that increases the chance of them occurring is unlikely.

The purpose of this isn't to address "disabling tethering", it's to provide a great product for 4G that the market already enjoys with 3G. And the truth is it makes much more sense as 4G has no data cap and can handle the bandwidth of simultaneous devices far better than 3G.]]>Dec 30th 2009 11:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/But in case I'm assuming to much ... http://www.gearlog.com/2009/10/sprint_android_blackberry_wind.php ]]>Dec 31st 2009 7:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
Yeah yeah, I know its so they can sell you another device & charge you an additional inflated cost for that there portable WiFi, but still.

These things & AirCards need to just end.]]>Dec 30th 2009 4:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
I think your point is valid about tethering, especially a cell phone to a laptop while on the move. But isn't this targeted more to home use? So that I can stop paying verizon DSL for 1999 speeds (no cable outlets in my apt), I can hook up one of these to my home computer and wifi router.]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
And I would rather use this than drain my phone down. Tethering is rarely the answer for the business user. But then again with Conectify if my phone is tethered I can share that connection.]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/I have the 3G "MiFi" that sprint has and have to say that it rocks. I just leave this thing in my pocket or backpack or briefcase which ever I have with me at that time. The speeds seem great and the 5GB cap seems to be ok as long as I don't watch video with it. Now you would never be able to use this thing for a home cable alternative if there was a 5GB cap on it.]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
No phone has 4G yet. Plus if you really are mobile, these things come with a battery, whereas most people would want to avoid draining their phone's battery.]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
These aren't being bought by people who can tether their smartphones. First of all there are no WiMAX phones on the market at this time, so the only realistic way to get your families or co-workers laptops onto a WiMAX network is with a WiMAX modem and hotspot/router. Secondly, cellular hotspots are for many-to-one connections - you know, multiple clients connecting and using the same data service. Homes, Small Offices, business travelers are common markets for these devices. I use a WiMAX router with 802.11n wi-fi in my house to provide internet access and networking for the dozen wireless and internet devices in my household.

But the real power of these is in alternative industries and markets. For instance, many professional photographers use cameras equipped with wi-fi. You can't tether them to a cellphone, but you can connect them to a wireless cellular router.

Also, in most of the developing world, cellular networks offer better coverage and reliability than landline-based internet systems. I know of schools in Africa that use cellular hotspots to provide internet access to their students' netbooks.

Also in applications that require first response (wildfire camps, flood and hurricane emergency crews, temporary emergency housing, etc.), cellular broadband routers are far cheaper and easier to implement than pulling in DSL lines or handing out 300 smartphones with tethering capability. I know a company that helps enterprises temporarily house relocated employees, and this company solely employs cellular routers in the homes because they are cheaper and easier to setup and teardown than subscribing to landline broadband services for 1 or 2 months per family.

Just because YOU don't have a need for a technology doesn't mean millions of others don't.]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
The carriers want to pretend tethering doesnt exist instead of embracing it. They're trying to push these devices down everyone's throat & it's just not gonna fly for the vast majority of users. I'd gladly pay an additional $20 or so if they would just cut the BS & offer small tethering plans with every smartphone.]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
I'm an average Joe that doesn't need this for business. But I have an Android wifi capable smart phone, my wife has one and both of my kids have iTouch iPods with wifi. I put this in the glove compartment in the car and we all have 3G/4G wifi everywhere we go.

Android drinks my battery as is, I don't need my notebook hammering it too!

I live in a 4G area so this looks great to me if it isn't too expensive.]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
Don't your guys' phones charge while tethering??? Mine does. And as far as I can tell, it does so faster than it drains although I've never "tested" that per se. Anyway, I can see a market for this device in spite of tethering, you know, if it works well.]]>Dec 30th 2009 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
I'm working on a project with an old-as-hell tablet computer and currently rely on a Sierra Wireless 550 AirCard for Sprint converted to a CDMA prepaid provider. It gives me 1xRTT data (meh) plus voice capabilities via an external headset. As old school as the project is, the AirCard has been the most reliable phone I've ever used in this entire area.

Sure, modern AirCards and other modems don't often support voice enable - but those that do are lifesavers in my book. I'm currently looking for one of those 3G Huawei USB modems for my laptop that has integrated voice calling - so I can have a mobile phone on the go, built right into my laptop without the need to carry many devices at once.]]>Dec 30th 2009 6:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
Yes you can plug in while tethering all alone. But the big picture to this isn't you and your notebook in a vacuum.

The big picture to this is creating a wifi hot spot. In my example, put it in the glove compartment and "everyone" in the car has high-speed wifi, not just me and my tethered notebook. Put it in your purse, bag or back pack and everyone with you has wifi connection.

Single and alone most of the time? Then this isn't for you. But I have 3 people with me most of the time and they would all love wifi connectivity while we are traveling. There are lots of non-work uses for this for many people.]]>Dec 30th 2009 6:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
'Tis the HTC MAX 4G (or Quartz) on the Russians' Yota GSM/WiMAX network. If I recall, there's a way to get the WiMAX to work on Clear as there is an official Clearwire test ROM available on XDA-Developers. Only issue is you'll get data-only and no voice services - perhaps an AT&T SIM would work for the GSM half.]]>Dec 30th 2009 6:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Haha so the average Joe doesn't need this an it's just pointless, but the carriers are ignoring all the people that want tethering on their phones?

Er, what?

This is an ideal device for people that are either carrying/around several Wifi enabled devices that would like them to be 3G & 4G enabled or mobile business users that have a need for several people to be able to access a reliable and secure Wifi hotspot (most hotel Wifi is laughably bad, and a lot of free hotspots are pretty unsecure for someone to use a business laptop on). The truth is the sort of users that NEED tethering on their phone but don't already have 3G embedded or a datacard they own/through their work are very small. But it is likely that things like the Overdrive will increase customer visibility to tethering and thus make it more likely to happen in the future.

Till then, it's not that hard to root most phones and install a Wifi tethering app...]]>Dec 30th 2009 11:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Dec 30th 2009 4:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Dec 30th 2009 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/What are your upload speeds?]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Dec 30th 2009 5:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.clearwire.com/
Seems to me that clearwire/sprint/apple are going to release the mac tablet as a wimax/cdma capable device. But thats just MO.......]]>Dec 30th 2009 5:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://imgur.com/ube2u.png]]>Dec 30th 2009 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Exactly..... now maybe engadget can get the go ahead to get out of bed with apple PR, and do some kind of journalism on this..... or maybe they will wait till 45 minutes after boy genius reports puts up an article that they actually investigate.....]]>Dec 30th 2009 6:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Dec 30th 2009 6:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Dec 31st 2009 12:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
read for yourself

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/clearwire-hit-lawsuit-alleging-poor-service/2009-04-23]]>Dec 30th 2009 7:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Dec 30th 2009 8:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
Most people I know carry an ataché or pocketbook or backpack. Shove one of these thing in there, get a Skype WiFi phone and you can have cheaper phone service.]]>Dec 30th 2009 9:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/Sprint's 3G network has the same 5GB cap as others but the 4G network has no cap.

Also for business customers there's no cap on 3G.]]>Dec 31st 2009 12:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
Now all I need is for Sprint to launch WiMAX in the Salt Lake City market... waiting... ]]>Dec 31st 2009 10:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/sprint-overdrive-dual-mode-wimax-ev-do-mobile-hotspot-leaks-in/
http://www.nextel.com/en/solutions/mobile_broadband/mobile_broadband_4G_singlemode_devices.shtml]]>Dec 31st 2009 3:35PM