FreedomPop is a freemium Internet service provider based in the U.S., founded in 2011 and backed by Skype cofounder, Niklas Zennstrom. In November 2012, FreedomPop began providing free and paid Internet services in the U.S. through wholesale Internet carrier Clearwire.
FreedomPop’s goal is to eventually be able to offer all everyone in the U.S. free Internet after it switches to Sprint 3G/4G/LTE service in 2013.
FreedomPop is reportedly the nation's first wireless Internet provider committed to delivering 100 percent FREE 4G mobile broadband Internet access. The firm has partnered with major wholesale 4G Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax) and 4G LTE mobile broadband networks to deliver the fastest high-speed Internet available, and offer the flexibility of wireless Internet.
FreedomPop has plans for a new product designed to work with iPads and Android tablets, named the LTE Clip.
When you buy a tablet, there’s usually the option of getting the Wi-Fi only model or going for the added expense of a 3G/4G model. The second option also carries the extra cost of another data plan.
FreedomPop goes through Sprint’s 4G networks.
The LTE Clip is designed to take a Wi-Fi only tablet and add a hotspot. One of the things that makes this different than other mobile hotspot devices is that with a $99 deposit, you get the LTE Clip and 500MB of free data per month. Of course there would be an additional charge if you exceeded the 500MB limit, and the freemium option comes in the form of paying for a premium package that will give you more data per month.
This information was leaked to Forbes, and from what I can tell, the data was FreedomPop itself.
Vital statistics include that it weighs 2.5 ounces, and has a battery life of about six hours located in the hinge of the device. The LTE Clip is designed to be just that – a clip that attaches anywhere on any tablet.
A study also reportedly supposedly shows that the clip will be useful for about 90 percent of WiFi-only tablets.
From the information I was able to gather, the LTE Clip is basically a mobile hotspot device. You can attach up to eight devices via Wi-Fi to it. While designed to clip on preferably the side of a tablet, it would work just as well if you placed it on top of a table or put it in your pocket. What sets this apart from other Wi-Fi hotspot devices is the fact that you get 500MB of free data per month from FreedomPop.
This makes it a device to consider if you do not use too much data when you are outside.
The LTE Clip is expected to launch sometime during the second half of 2013.
Edited by
Braden Becker