It looks like my dream case may finally become a reality: FreedomPop?s New iPhone Case Promises Users Free Wireless Data | TechCrunch
Essentially, it's a case that doubles as a WiFi hotspot for your iPhone4/4S, providing you with mobile data on the go. The BEST part, though, is that the first gigabyte is said to be FREE (you do provide a deposit for the case, but that's it until you go over the limit). From the article:
As I understand it, each FreedomPop iPhone case user will have free access to a 1GB data plan right off the bat. That?s the only plan that FreedomPop will offer for the sleeve, though their overage fees seem strangely familiar: each MB over the limit will cost a penny, which means every gigabyte over the limit is $10. That?s not to say that FreedomPop users can ditch their carriers entirely ? the case alone isn?t enough to let users place voice calls, and major carriers generally won?t let you buy a smartphone without a data plan to go with it.
There are still some costs involved though, specifically a deposit that each user has to shell out for a WiMax-friendly iPhone case of their own. My source tells me that the deposit will be under $100, and will be fully refundable to customers if they ever choose to discontinue their service so long as the sleeve is still in good condition.
Users will also be running on ClearWire?s 4G network, and while that isn?t as fast as AT&T or Verizon LTE, it?s often more than enough to give 3G networks a run for their money (depending on their location, anyway). Their reliance on ClearWire could prove to be a bit of a stumbling block since it doesn?t have the biggest footprint, but FreedomPop is currently in talks with other ?major? wireless providers about the possibility of branching out.
Here's to hoping! I would drop my seldom used plan in a heartbeat if I could get this working...the few times I use my phone for calling, I could just use Talkatone/Google Voice and be happy with it.
Essentially, it's a case that doubles as a WiFi hotspot for your iPhone4/4S, providing you with mobile data on the go. The BEST part, though, is that the first gigabyte is said to be FREE (you do provide a deposit for the case, but that's it until you go over the limit). From the article:
As I understand it, each FreedomPop iPhone case user will have free access to a 1GB data plan right off the bat. That?s the only plan that FreedomPop will offer for the sleeve, though their overage fees seem strangely familiar: each MB over the limit will cost a penny, which means every gigabyte over the limit is $10. That?s not to say that FreedomPop users can ditch their carriers entirely ? the case alone isn?t enough to let users place voice calls, and major carriers generally won?t let you buy a smartphone without a data plan to go with it.
There are still some costs involved though, specifically a deposit that each user has to shell out for a WiMax-friendly iPhone case of their own. My source tells me that the deposit will be under $100, and will be fully refundable to customers if they ever choose to discontinue their service so long as the sleeve is still in good condition.
Users will also be running on ClearWire?s 4G network, and while that isn?t as fast as AT&T or Verizon LTE, it?s often more than enough to give 3G networks a run for their money (depending on their location, anyway). Their reliance on ClearWire could prove to be a bit of a stumbling block since it doesn?t have the biggest footprint, but FreedomPop is currently in talks with other ?major? wireless providers about the possibility of branching out.
Here's to hoping! I would drop my seldom used plan in a heartbeat if I could get this working...the few times I use my phone for calling, I could just use Talkatone/Google Voice and be happy with it.
