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Virgin Mobile USA and Boost take WiMAX live, ship HTC EVO V 4G and EVO Design 4G on May 31

Jon Fingas — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:29:00 EST

In sync with Sprint's plans to get its sub-brands on 4G using its legacy WiMAX network, both Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile have trotted out their initial 4G lineups. The early Virgin mix includes retreads of two Sprint data-only devices -- a Broadband2Go-badged version of the Sierra Wireless Overdrive Pro 3G/4G hotspot and a matching version of the Franklin U600 previously seen at Clear. Virgin's real star, however, is the HTC EVO V 4G: though it's ultimately the EVO 3D with a slightly more 2D name, it's shipping with Android 4.0 from the start and has HTC's Frankenstein-like Sense 3.6 rather than the 4.0 of the One series. The network upgrade and all three new devices swing into action on May 31, and while your $35 minimum monthly plan will stay in effect even with unlimited on-device 4G, you'll need to spend $300 (contract-free) to take home an EVO V 4G, $150 on the Overdrive Pro or $100 on the U600 stick.

Boost Mobile is also going the Sprint rebadge route through the HTC EVO Design 4G. As with its bigger brother over at Virgin, the single-core EVO Design 4G is identical in hardware to its Sprint equivalent but slaps Android 4.0 and Sense 3.6 on top to keep the software fresh. The update does mark the first time a Boost phone gets Visual Voicemail, so you can feel slightly less guilty when you miss a call. HTC's phone will oddly cost the same $300 off-contract as the more advanced EVO V 4G, although Boost is likely counting on customers sticking around long enough for an all-inclusive unlimited plan to drop to $40 per month and make it worthwhile.

Gallery: Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile 4G devices

Continue reading Virgin Mobile USA and Boost take WiMAX live, ship HTC EVO V 4G and EVO Design 4G on May 31

Virgin Mobile USA and Boost take WiMAX live, ship HTC EVO V 4G and EVO Design 4G on May 31 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint announces Overdrive Pro 3G / 4G mobile hotspot router, available on March 20th

Richard Lai — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 02:03:00 EST

Road warriors riding the Sprint WiMAX truck will be pleased to know that there's a new mobile hotspot device in the house. Dubbed the Overdrive Pro 3G / 4G, users can now simultaneously connect up to eight devices -- as opposed to just five previously -- to the mobile web via this little 802.11n router from Sierra Wireless. Better yet, Sprint has halved the price for this new model to $49.99 after a $50 rebate with a two year $50 service agreement, yet you still get the usual goodies like microSD expansion and built-in GPS support to boot. You can pick one up at Sprint stores starting on March 20th, but of course, the previous Overdrive is probably sufficient for most humble uses, anyway.

[Thanks, r0fl]

Continue reading Sprint announces Overdrive Pro 3G / 4G mobile hotspot router, available on March 20th

Sprint announces Overdrive Pro 3G / 4G mobile hotspot router, available on March 20th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 02:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy offering free mobile hotspots with iPad purchase

Sean Hollister — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:02:00 EST

Planning to pay Verizon an extra $130 for an iPad + MiFi 2200 bundle? Hold on a sec, because Best Buy's planning to give away hotspots free of charge when you purchase Apple's tablet. This advertisement, obtained by 9to5 Mac, does mention that you'll need to shackle yourself to a carrier for two years to qualify -- unlike Verizon's original arrangement -- but in exchange you get a free Verizon FiveSpot, AT&T MiFi, or perhaps most excitingly, a WiMax-capable Sprint Overdrive. Fine print in the lower-right hand corner suggests that the promo will begin immediately and run through January 2nd. What better way to spend your leftover Hanukkah gelt than on gigabytes of wireless data?

Best Buy offering free mobile hotspots with iPad purchase originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint CEO thanks iPad for uptick in Overdrive demand

Darren Murph — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 21:21:00 EST

Well, wouldn't you know it? Seems that tongue-in-cheek marketing campaign may actually be working. Way back in April of this year, Sprint decided it would begin offering its own iPad case, despite the fact that even today the iPad isn't sold in Sprint stores. The reason? It's the perfect opportunity to push the Overdrive, a 4G mobile hotspot that's able to take the iPad (and any other WiFi-enabled device) to 4G speeds where available. In a recent interview with GigaOM, the carrier's CEO (Dan Hesse) confirmed that most iPads being sold are of the WiFi variety, and due to that, "the company has seen an uptick in demand for its Overdrive (3G/4G) wireless-hotspot device, as people use it to connect their iPads to the Internet when on the go." He failed to exaggerate on actual numbers, but it's obvious he's in favor of Apple's darling tablet selling like hotcakes -- after all, how else are you going to get an iDevice into 4G territory?

Sprint CEO thanks iPad for uptick in Overdrive demand originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 21:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TWC rebadges Sprint Overdrive, offers it as IntelliGo mobile 3G / 4G hotspot

Darren Murph — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:14:00 EST

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.

Continue reading TWC rebadges Sprint Overdrive, offers it as IntelliGo mobile 3G / 4G hotspot

TWC rebadges Sprint Overdrive, offers it as IntelliGo mobile 3G / 4G hotspot originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's iPad '4G case' features an Overdrive pocket, oodles of irony

Ross Miller — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:19:00 EST

Listen Sprint, we get it, you want the whole US drooling over an iDevice hitting the internet at 4G speeds. First you extolled the virtues of WiMAX in an ad featuring the iPhone, and now you're going so far as to give away a special "4G" iPad case for free with the purchase of an Overdrive from Best Buy -- and yes, to be sure, the tote features a special pouch for your new mobile hotspot. No word yet on if placing a 3G iPad in the case creates some singularity from which no nearby object can escape (or get reception, for that matter).

Update: Don't take the playful tone personally, we actually love the concept. More so, we just think Sprint is being funny here. We'll have some detailed test results of our time with Overdrive / iPad soon!

[Thanks, John]

Sprint's iPad '4G case' features an Overdrive pocket, oodles of irony originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Sprint ad shows iPhone using WiMAX... via Overdrive

Darren Murph — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:43:00 EST

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...

Continue reading New Sprint ad shows iPhone using WiMAX... via Overdrive

New Sprint ad shows iPhone using WiMAX... via Overdrive originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: I, hotspot

Ross Rubin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:35:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

One of the conundrums facing device makers today is how to add wireless connectivity to their products. E-readers such as the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook use internet access primarily for selling you more content, so it can be completely subsidized. Laptops, on the other hand, can consume large amounts of data, and so plans can run $60 per month and have capped bandwidth, even at that price. Apple and AT&T's iPad pricing scheme attempts a compromise: a $15 prepaid for a minimal 250 MB per month that could serve the needs of many users (especially with a Flash-less browser and sideloaded video delivery), along with the option of a $30 unlimited plan.

For many users, though, there is another option: bring your own broadband. Last year, Novatel Wireless's MiFi, launched in the U.S. by Sprint and Verizon Wireless, opened up the possibility for virtually any WiFi device to access the internet over 3G connections. Laptops without 3G cards could access the web from a car and the iPod touch became a functional iPhone -- and in some parts of AT&T's alleged network coverage, more functional than an iPhone.

Continue reading Switched On: I, hotspot

Switched On: I, hotspot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Mobile Podcast 030: Friday @ CES 2010 - 01.08.2010

Trent Wolbe — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:15:00 EST

Chris Ziegler. Sean Cooper. Together, again, at last - and this time, even in the same goshdarn room! Get the raw, uncensored take on new mobile communications technology developments from companies like Palm, LG, Samsung, and Sony! Almost live and direct from the showroom floor: It's the Engadget Mobile Podcast, CES Edition 2010, Volume 1.0. Live it, breathe it. Get inside that new-phone smell. Become your mobile dream.

Hosts: Chris Ziegler, Sean Cooper
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Solvent - Devices and Strategies (Ghostly International)

01:55 - HTC Smart hands-on
10:43 - Motorola Backflip hands-on
17:17 - Live from Palm's CES 2010 press event
18:30 - Palm Pixi Plus: WiFi-equipped and heading to Verizon
19:17 - Palm introduces Palm Pre Plus: 16GB, coming to Verizon on January 25th
25:24 - Palm gets serious about 3D gaming on webOS
27:57 - Palm swings open doors to App Catalog's innards
30:37 - Rogers and HTC give up: Magic will see Android 2.1, but Dream gets a pass
32:25 - Sony Ericsson's 'Robyn' pops into the limelight -- an X10 mini?
37:50 - Samsung Bada S8200 and Galaxy2 may match Nexus One's specs
40:10 - Parrot AR.Drone hands-on: a quadricopter for the rest of us
41:30 - LG Rumor Touch launches for Sprint
41:40 - LG Lotus Elite hops from a Las Vegas billboard right to Sprint retail
44:00 - Sprint Overdrive 4G mobile hotspot unboxing and hands-on

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Filed under: Handsets, HTC, LG, Motorola, Palm, Announcements, Podcasts

Engadget Mobile Podcast 030: Friday @ CES 2010 - 01.08.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint Overdrive 4G mobile hotspot unboxing and hands-on

Nilay Patel — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:08:00 EST

We just grabbed a Sprint Overdrive 3G / 4G mobile hotspot and put it through some quick tests. If you're used a MiFi, you know the drill here -- you boot it up, it connects to either WiMAX or EVDO, and broadcasts a WiFi signal for up to five devices. Two things make it far more awesome than a MiFi, however: first, the LCD, which displays the numeric wireless password and data throughput; and second, the bandwidth, which peaked at around 4mbps down over WiMAX here in Vegas. (Uploads were slower at around .8mbps, though.) Yes, we're in love -- we've been testing Clear WiMAX here in Vegas and finding it pretty spotty, so the ability to seamlessly drop down to EVDO on the fly is much appreciated. We're going to throw the Overdrive right into the fire and use it as a part of our mobile CES workflow tomorrow, we'll let you know how it goes.

Gallery: Sprint Overdrive 3G / 4G mobile hotspot unboxing and hands-on

Sprint Overdrive 4G mobile hotspot unboxing and hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint Overdrive hands-on

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

If you were worried that packing WiMAX into a MiFi-like device would end up bloating it by a thousand percent, we're very happy to report that you'd be wrong. The Overdrive's only marginally bigger than a MiFi and takes on a diamond-cut square shape (as opposed to the MiFi's rectangle) while adding a monochrome LCD up front that can be triggered on by touching (but not pressing) the power button. Other than that, you've got a micro-USB port, a microSD slot... and, well, that's about it. For something designed to slide into your pocket, we'd have it no other way.

Gallery: Sprint Overdrive hands-on

Sprint Overdrive hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint Overdrive 3G / 4G router officially announced

Nilay Patel — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:37:00 EST

We saw the Sprint Overdrive 3G / 4G mobile hotspot leak out last week, and now it's official -- Sprint just announced it here at CES. It's pretty much what you'd expect: the Sierra Wireless-built box connects to Sprint's WiMAX network and shares that connection with up to five devices over WiFi -- and if the 4G connection drops, it'll seamlessly switch to EVDO. You're looking at $99 after a $50 rebate with a two year $59/mo service agreement when it goes on sale January 10 at Best Buy and Sprint stores. Looks like the MiFi just got shown up, eh?

Sprint Overdrive 3G / 4G router officially announced originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint Overdrive dual-mode WiMAX / EV-DO mobile hotspot leaks into the wild (update: $50 U301 on contract?)

Nilay Patel — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:32:00 EST

Move over, MiFi -- this Sprint Overdrive dual-mode WiMAX / EV-DO mobile hotspot that just hit our inbox has taken over as our new object of broadband desire. Our tipster says internal training on the Sierra-built device has already begun, and that the unit itself features a microSD slot, support for location services, and has a 100-foot Wi-Fi range -- but sadly we don't have pricing or availability deets to share yet. We're hoping we find out more at CES -- and we'd bet that new dual-mode U301 WiMAX modem that leaked a couple weeks ago makes an appearance as well. Fingers crossed.

Update: The same tipster that sent us the information to start with is back with a few tidbits on the U301. According to the anonymous individual, that USB modem will be launching in February for $49.99 on contract. Also on the horizon? A WiMAX home desktop modem with a special price plan of its own.

Sprint Overdrive dual-mode WiMAX / EV-DO mobile hotspot leaks into the wild (update: $50 U301 on contract?) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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