Karma's CEO on reinventing the hotspot
It turns out delivering a new spin on mobile internet access is neither fast, nor easy.
It's hard to get excited about a mere hotspot these days, but the Karma Go is something different. It's a $149 device that lets you pay for mobile internet access (on Sprint's LTE network) as you go for $14 per gigabyte, or get unlimited access for $50 a month. Right now it's also on sale for $99 if you sign up for an unlimited plan from the start. The kicker is that it shares your connection, so that others can hop onto your hotspot with their own Karma accounts. You'll get a bit of credit for everyone who joins your Karma Go, so there's an incentive for you to share. Now, the company is gearing up to begin next-day shipping for the Karma Go, just in time for last-minute holiday shopping.
We sat down with Karma CEO Steven van Wel to chat about the experience of building the Karma Go. In addition to discussing its design and the changes from the company's first-generation device, we dove into the LTE regulatory approval process that led to lengthy delays for the Karma Go. (Note: This video was shot before Karma announced its unlimited data plan.)
