TWC rebadges Sprint Overdrive, offers it as IntelliGo mobile 3G / 4G hotspot
By Darren Murph 
posted July 7th 2010 9:14AM
posted July 7th 2010 9:14AM
And then, there were three. Three ways to snag an Overdrive, that is. Months after Sprint issued the original 3G / 4G mobile hotspot, Clear came along and introduced a rebadged version of the same thing. Now, Time Warner Cable (who is also in cahoots with Sprint and Clear) is following suit by tossing its logo on the all-too-familiar device and christening it the IntelliGo. Functionally, it's the same as ever -- there's a built-in battery that'll provide 3G / 4G mobile internet to a smattering (read: five) of nearby devices via WiFi, a microSD slot and USB connectivity. The difference here, though, is that it'll run you $49.99 on a two-year contract, and the fee will "vary by region." Speaking of regions, it'll be available wherever Road Runner Mobile is offered, which means Texas, North Carolina, Hawaii and Kansas City for now. 
Time Warner Cable Introduces IntelliGo by Sierra Wireless and Road Runner Mobile™ 4G
Connect up to five WiFi-enabled devices to the Time Warner Cable 4G Mobile Network, providing super-fast internet access on the go
NEW YORK & VANCOUVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR; TSX: SW) today announced a new dual mode mobile hotspot device, IntelliGo is now available on the Time Warner Cable 4G network with Road Runner Mobile™. IntelliGo enables any device with Wi-Fi connectivity, and up to five devices simultaneously, to connect to the Time Warner Cable 4G Mobile Network and a nationwide 3G network for internet access on the go. While on the Time Warner Cable 4G network, customers using Road Runner Mobile™ can get internet speeds up to 6 Mbps (megabits per second) on the fastest mobile broadband network available.
"We are excited to be bringing our customers IntelliGo and the ability to connect their favorite Wi-Fi devices to our 4G mobile network."
"IntelliGo allows customers to really leverage the speed of the Time Warner Cable 4G network and the coverage of a national 3G network on all of their Wi-Fi enabled devices anywhere they go," said Mike Roudi, GVP of Wireless Products for Time Warner Cable. "We are excited to be bringing our customers IntelliGo and the ability to connect their favorite Wi-Fi devices to our 4G mobile network."
"IntelliGo, the Sierra Wireless AirCard® W801 Mobile Hotspot, provides a simple solution for those who live the modern digital lifestyle," said Mike O'Brien, Vice President, Network Operator Sales for Sierra Wireless. "With IntelliGo from Time Warner Cable and Sierra Wireless, it's easy to keep all your devices connected, even on the go – cameras, media players, gaming devices, notebooks, and tablet computers can update and be updated in real time. We're thrilled to be able to collaborate with Time Warner Cable in bringing IntelliGo to Road Runner Mobile customers."
Time Warner Cable 4G Network, featuring Road Runner Mobile is available in Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, Texas; Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C.; Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii; and Kansas City, MO. Road Runner Mobile customers will also be able to access the 4G network in additional cities outside the Time Warner Cable footprint including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and Seattle. Additional 4G networks planned for launch in 2010 include New York, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles. Time Warner Cable's Road Runner Mobile 4G customers also have access to 3G coverage nationwide in areas where 4G is not available.
For more information about getting Road Runner Mobile please contact your local Time Warner Cable office or visit www.timewarnercable.com.
IntelliGo Mobile Hotspot
The IntelliGo Mobile Hotspot provides access to both 3G and 4G networks, for the fastest available wireless broadband connection and plenty of bandwidth to share. It can be connected wirelessly to any WiFi-enabled device, including media players, gaming devices, and cameras as well as notebook, netbook and tablet computers.
Key features also include a LCD screen that provides important information such as battery life and internet connection status, as well as an easy-to-use web interface for customizing settings. The IntelliGo Mobile Hotspot also includes built-in GPS capability (on 3G), a MicroSD slot for up to 16 GB memory cards creating shared storage with up to five connected devices, and an extended Wi-Fi range of up to 150 feet. With up to four hours active battery life, and USB charging capabilities it offers a home hotspot away from home – a fast, secure connection for busy digital nomads that makes the time-consuming "hotspot hunt" obsolete.
Now for 4G to come to the UK, with appropriate handsets of course.
@yeoldgreat1 You need EVO and Samsung Vibrant!!! They are such sick phones, really, you English are missing out on them.
F time warner!
@statickeith
We have the Galaxy S
@statickeith I've got a HD2, so it's the next best thing! :D
Sprint is becoming much smarter.. I admit this as someone who used ot hate them. Selling their products under a major cable company.. Such coy foxes hehe.
Funny how they're all partners
T-Mobile has one coming out too ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_1Yen_qDFY
@S60 Ok, I can't view this from the Engadget app... Where do I send my complaints/suggestions/hate mail about the app?
Just curious...what is the SD card slot for?
@mr88 I believe it's so you can mount it like a network drive and share it with other people on the overdrive.
@krische
You would be correct.
Do you get free wi-fi on their hotspots around NYC?
Little secret I found out. If you get the 4g/3g plan through time warner you get UNLIMITED 3g. Neither sprint nor clear offer it unlimited.
@greezyg That is a sweet deal. Is that a goof up, contracted or a limited deal?
My wife has the Sprint version for her business and we are concerned about the 3G usage. She is on the edge of the city where the 4G signal seems to fluctuate.
@MLamont I'm sure there is a 2 year contract like everyone else. You must have a time warner service too though... video or internet or phone. Still a good deal if you use 3g a lot.
is that the sh*t my dad says book beside the device?
@clarkkers
Yes it is.
@Master of the Intangible thought so! i am currently reading it. ah, lol.
This is an EXCELLENT device. It's control panel, accessed through your web browser is very good, the setup of the device is super simple, just powering the device on displays the name of the network and the password. I mean, this thing puts every router you've ever owned to shame. I am glad to see all the rebadged releases.
@Smurf
The device is really neat and handy.
Just one word of warning -- HEAT. Do not let it get too hot (like covering it , putting it on top of a MacMini, or leaving in sunlight). The battery will warp/degrade very, very quickly if you do that.
We've run through several batteries due to that (of course we work outdoors a lot so it's difficult to keep it cool in the summer).
Rerbranding is so freakin' lame.
TWC?
Anyone else see that headline and think "What's The Weather Channel have to do with this?"
(Maybe it's because Time Warner doesn't serve my area.)
Actually all of these devices are made by a company called Sierra Wireless and Sprint, Clear, TWC, and any carrier can slap their logo on it.
@Shock Me
That may be true, but in this particular instance, TWC doesn't even have it's own network to support the device. At least with Sprint/Clear you know that the name on the device is the same company responsible for providing you with quality service.
Sprint rebadged it to begin with....
The clear version while cute & an awesome idea the performance is horrible and not what advertised.
I've run mutliple speed tests since it came in the mail and my best Download Mbps is 0.80kbs. My average running Speedtest from a browser or an iPad is 0.45 MBps down, 56.2 KB/s up.
That's a huge far cry from 6MB Down, and medicore for 1MB/up it advertises.
This is at the house. Tomorrow I'll take it where I wanted to use it while mobile the most and if things don't improve it's not near worth the $60 a month or so I'm being charged for it. The home modem is definitely going back regardless. The latency is an order of magnitude faster than my DSL connection, too much for my taste. Browsing shouldn't paint like i'm on dialup again.