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…