Clear iSpot 4G: Best Deal in Mobile Broadband?

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Clear, the folks behind the national 4G WiMax rollout, introduced a (rebranded) mobile hotspot today that solely targets the iPhone, iPod, and iPad crowd. “iSpot” is similar in functionality to the MiFi – wirelessly sharing an Internet connection. However, instead of Sprint or Verizon providing connectivity via 3G towers, it’s Clear’s WiMax network.

The iSpot hardware is listed at $100, but Clear is running a launch special of $29. Contract-free service for the original device-agnostic Spot clocks in at $40 a month, whereas the more restrictive iSpot is a reasonable $25/mo. And it’s actually those iRestrictions which partially motivated me to place an order today. I love a geeky challenge. Although I suspect overcoming the iGadget lockdown will be trivial. If not, we’ve been told a call to Clear customer service is all it takes to upgrade your service plan to allow the iSpot to connect to a broader range of devices.

I’m no stranger to 4G, having picked up one of the first commercial products in 2008 (and suffered with limited coverage and compatibility). However, what makes the iSpot so appealing is its low monthly service charge. Sure, bundled hotspot functionality found on a Nexus One running Froyo on T-Mobile or a Palm Pre Plus on Verizon might trump iSpot on price. But I’m unhappily married to AT&T, where tethering runs $20/mo and requires downgrading your phone data cap, from 5GB to 2GB. More importantly, I often need an alternate network to feed my iPhone given AT&T’s expansive dead zones.

Stay tuned, I’ll let you know how it all works out…

17 thoughts on “Clear iSpot 4G: Best Deal in Mobile Broadband?”

  1. Still no coverage in South Florida but they’ve made it to Jacksonville. At that price it’d pay for my mifi cancel fee in under a year.

  2. Scott, I am bummed it’s not 3G/4G like the Clear-branded Overdrive is for maximum coverage footprint. But that service runs $55/mo. The 4G is pretty widespread here in my region. I don’t think it’s complete, but it’s decent. Also, they’ve got Vegas blanketed so I should probably hold onto the iSpot through at least January… assuming I hit CES.

  3. I have no idea what the difference is between the $25/month service & the $40/month service. Could you run that by me again?

  4. An iSpot on the $25/mo plan provides 4G Internet access to iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches via WiFi. The $40/mo plan doesn’t discriminate based on device – connect any laptop, Android phone, Nook, anything else via WiFi. (With either plan, up to 8 devices can connect simultaneously.)

    Basically, Clear took an existing product (the Spot) and changed it’s color (black to white) then restricted it to supporting only Apple mobile devices for a reduced monthly rate.

    And, yes, I did have trouble writing this up coherently. Mari and I swapped 18 emails amongst ourselves and the Clear rep to get a handle on the press release (and identify the potential upsell).

  5. I figured, for the 29$ one time device change (probably going to be hackable) and the 25$ a month, no commitment service contract, I’ll bite and give it a try. I’d like to try the 4g (even though in the Bay Area, it is NOT available, only in the SAC corridor) but I travel to CHI, IAD, ATL, NYC, other places where there IS spot coverage

    And, don’t forget there is a 14 day NQA return policy, might as well give it a shot

  7. Even though Clear and Sprint say there is no 4G coverage where I live, for $56 I figured I’d give it a shot to try 4G (somewhere) and hopefully they’ll expand out a couple streets at some point.

  10. Ordered one late last night and should have it delivered tomorrow. As I live in Las Vegas, I am hopeful it performs as advertised.

  12. i ALREADY HAVE A cLEAR ACCT THAKS TO dAVE FROM LAST YEAR SO i FELT i MUST CONTINUE AND BOUGHT ONE OF THESE THIS am. i WAS VERY PERSISTANT TRYING TO GET AN ANSWER AS TO WHETHER ONE COULD UPGRADE THE Ispot TO ANOTHER clear PLAN AND WAS SHOT DOWN INFORMATION WISE. nO ONE COULD GIVE ME AN ANSWER, THEN A SUPERVISER GOT ON THE PHONE WITH THE “teCHNOLOGY FOR THE DEVICE IS STRICTLY FOR THE iPHONE ipad ETC AND IT WILL NOT WORK”

    Sorry about CAPS lock, this is too much for a retype on my Blackberry LOL

    I can hardly wait to see who comes up with a work around first.

  13. Some of yesterday’s coverage suggested that in non-WiMax areas, your iSpot would happily connect you via 3G network. If that’s true, and is included in these rates, and the monthly bandwidth limits aren’t too onerous, I’m ready to jump.

  14. @ MHA
    Unfortunately that will not be the case with the iSPOT. This device is a WIMAX 4G only device. While CLEAR does have devices and plans that will do that, they are considerably more expensive. Basically for the 3G add on it is $15.00 additional on your plan and you would need the more expensive CLEARSPOT 4G Plus (a rebadged Sierra Wireless Overdrive also offered by Sprint) which has the $g/3G capability. (There is also a 3G/4G USB Modem offering)That is currently on the “One Day Sale” program for the low -low price of $59.00 and requires a 2 yr commitment.

    And CLEAR if you are watching, may I say, from my point of view, this new “One Day Only Sale” marketing approach with the deluxe countdown clock is an insult to our intelligence. I would sincerely advise taking another look at this concept. Whats next, when I go to the site a POP UP shows up and a voice congradulates me for being the “Winner for Today” and I can get a iSPOT for only $29.00!!.

  15. Yeah, one can STILL order it for the ONE DAY SALE PRICE of 29$, now clearly at the end of the next day. Arrival tomorrow. we’ll see how it works.

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