This actually happened a few days ago, but since we admittedly weren't on the lookout for hot filings from Chinese manufacturer ZTE, we totally missed it until we circled back for our
FCC Fridays roundup this week. That's right: what you're looking at above is a non-carrier-branded version of the
Fivespot global mobile hotspot for Verizon that we'd broke the news on last month -- and if you sift through the user's manual in the FCC filing, you'll see that this is indeed the same thing as the Verizon device. As a refresher, this puppy is supposed to replace the aging
MiFi and offer support for triband HSPA alongside EV-DO in the event you're dying for some 3G coverage outside the States. We've heard rumors that it's been canceled recently to make room for Big Red's
LTE plans, but we're not sure we buy it since widespread LTE coverage is still a long way out -- especially in a tiny, sexy, global mobile hotspot form factor like this. And hey, with FCC approval behind 'em, why not go ahead and release it?
posted August 14th 2010 9:09AM
So will this be released outside of the US? We really need some competition to 3s MiFi in the UK.
@d0mth0ma5
3 are pretty good for price and coverage, not for calls and texts, but for the likes of mobile browsing and 3g it is :P
@HoldenMccrotch Competition = (Even) Lower Prices
@d0mth0ma5
i just cant see any other ommpanies doing it for a better price, o2 wont, tmob wont, the best i see is orange matching the price :P
@HoldenMccrotch t-mobile do the Novatel MiFi, I saw them in CPW last week next to the Three MiFi.
Verizon=vampires
It's better to push it through the FCC now and shelve it than to have the concept, not act on it, and watch a competitor with a similar product take advantage of your mistake
It looks like a Palm Pre, was that the intent?
@trekrema
Almost certainly. Palm Pres are very comfortable to have in even small pockets (so much so that I didn't even notice mine was in my pocket when I jumped in the pool last week.)
@trekrema You are right. I was just about to post how this looked like someone did a face transplant on a Palm Pre.
Man, I'm worried about 4G. I really think that the plans are going to be crazy expensive and that you're not going to be able to escape them because all the carriers are going to do what Sprint did, charge you extra for it, even if you don't have 4G in your area! 4G is so far from being a national norm llke 3G is.
@EagleyeSmith
People are all up in arms about AT&T and Verizons current data plans.
I can't wait to see their eyeballs pop out of their heads literally when verizon dumps on them a $50/month charge for 4G
I completely agree. I just hope the phone that I mainly use (iPhone l) doesn't switch to 4G in the next 3-4 years when all the 4G really heats up. I don't want to pay a surcharge on top of my regular plan and I don't even have 4G in my area, ya know?
@EagleyeSmith
True....I have an iPhone as well and even if Verizon were to get the fabled and legendary 4G capable iPhone I still wouldn't switch. Contrary to all the bullsh*t out there AT&T 3G works excellent where I'm at and I have no reason to complain.
Luckily I also live in a WiMax area so I have the option of switching should I want to. Sprint's plans are the most affordable and the extra $10/mo is def fair IMO.
Well, I love AT&T too, I would never go back to Verizon. But I just know that the market is monkey see, monkey do. If one charges a ton, the next will or just marginally lower prices.
Lol, nice reflection.
Good,but give review after using it.
========
henry
Smart Car Care
I'm sure this has been discussed in the past, but this article reminded me to look into carrying a portable hotspot and a VOIP-capable gadget instead of a phone. I don't use enough voice to merit carrying a phone, but portable internet has become much more of a priority to me. I'm not too concerned about being unreachable by phone some of the time.
@Andyr2120 it would be nice if a laptop/netbook/tablet or any portable device that's not a mobile phone perse could be voip/femtocell enabled. been waiting on magicjack to do just that but that's where net-neutrality and the future of the waves and profit and the consumers have to go through this process, right?
Looks like a Palm Pre.