SierraWirelessAircard313u
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AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G and Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G scheduled for August 21st launch
With it having been in the works for so long, it's easy to forget that AT&T is ready to flip the switch on its sparkling-new LTE network virtually any second now. But Ma Bell is happy to remind us of its impending true 4G launch by announcing that its first two dedicated LTE devices, the USBConnect Momentum 4G and Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G, are set to be sold in stores this upcoming Sunday. In addition, users of the USBConnect Adrenaline will be able to download a firmware update on August 26th that turns on its dormant LTE radio. The carrier also officially announced that its DataConnect plans will be offered for $50 per month for 5GB, with usage charges of $10 for each additional GB. Hold your horses, though -- the units will be available for purchase and can be used on HSPA+ for now, but it doesn't guarantee AT&T will activate the higher-speed 4G network next week. Nay, we may have to wait just a little longer before Ralph de la Vega pushes the big red button on his desk, but that day is not too distant.
AT&T shipping HSPA+ / LTE USBConnect Momentum 4G and Elevate 4G this summer
So, summertime it is. Not only is the livin' e-zee, but staying connected at an even higher rate of speed should be as well for those situated on Ma Bell's network. AT&T has just confirmed that a duo of HSPA + / LTE WWAN devices will be shipping within the next few months, with the USBConnect Momentum 4G offering plug-and-play access to both high-speed networks and the Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G acting as a liaison for up to five nearby WiFi devices. The former is nothing more than a rebranded Sierra Wireless AirCard 313U -- the same oversized (and we mean oversized) device that launched on Rogers' own LTE network just days ago in Canada. Aside from being large enough to double as a cricket bat, the dongle features a microSD card slot, works with Mac and PC platforms and supports roaming in over 200 nations -- not that you'll be silly enough to actually take advantage, though. Moreover, those using the card will get gratis access to AT&T's growing WiFi network if using a post-paid data plan. Moving on, the carrier's first 4G LTE mobile hotspot device (yeah, that'd be the AT&T Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G) will include a 1.77-inch display for showing just how few megabytes you have left on your plan, support for five simultaneous connections and the ability to seamlessly hop between HSPA+ and LTE. AT&T will begin selling the AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G for $49.99 with two-year contract after a $50 mail-in-rebate, while the Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G will be available for $69.99 with a similar deal. The company's not going any further than stating a "summer" ship date, and despite our pleading, we can't get anything more solid out of 'em. Naturally, it'll be folks in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Antonio enjoying the LTE spoils first, with ten more cities to be blessed by the end of the year. Too bad it's still not saying what kind of scratch will be required on a month-to-month basis. %Gallery-128165%
