4G Everywhere!

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Click to enlarge.

OK, so maybe the headline is misleading. While the WiMax 4G footprint continues to expand, not to be confused with LTE or T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G branding, it’s not quite everywhere. In fact, I’ve got it in my home (where I don’t need it) yet can’t seem to latch onto the network near work (where I might). Nonetheless, I gots loads of fun 4G devices. And, by request, we’re going to break ’em down…

In the lower left, the oblong white object is the Clear iSpot — a mobile 4G WiFi hotspot, think MiFi, designed to only support iDevices like the iPhone and iPad. However, that particular limitation (resulting in a nicely reduced monthly rate of just $25) is what motivated me to make a purchase… and document a laptop workaround.

Heading clockwise to the upper left, you see a Sprint Overdrive. I fell in love with this dual 3G/4G WiFi hotspot at CES as a possible MiFi upgrade. Not only did it offer blazing fast 4G speeds, where available, but it provided more battery and a practical LCD. Alas, non-upgrade pricing and some early software issues held me back from making a move. But I’m (enjoying) putting it through its paces now as I evaluate it for an office project.

Top center is the Rover Puck, which is truly the most puck-like of the wireless hotspot pucks. Rover is a newer service offering from Clear that provides pay-as-you-go 4G ($5/day, $20/week, $50/month). Their marketing rep thought it might be fun if I unboxed the Rover on video for some exposure. And, in case I do, I carefully repackaged it after the photoshoot above. ;)

Lastly, to the right, is the Samsung Epic Android smartphone on loan from Sprint. And it’s my favorite Galaxy S iteration by far. It’s necessarily bulkier than the others due to the hidden QWERTY keyboard, but it feels the most solid and looks the most elegant. For example, the slide mechanism is exceptional and I appreciate the soft-touch rear. I’m still not quite sold on the top-mounted USB port and the somewhat garish TouchWiz ‘droid skin job, but overall this is an excellent phone. On Sprint, the EVO and the Epic are the only two choices worth considering. Even though it’ll run you an additional 10 bucks a month for the luxury of 4G speeds.

2 thoughts on “4G Everywhere!”

  1. Woo-hoo, I’m 50% like you, Dave! Got Clear iSpot which I’m mostly using at work with my iPod Touch (or home whenever U-Verse goes down) and Epic 4G. Still haven’t activated Epic yet since I keep stalling on figuring out a way to dump all of my contacts into Google Contacts.

    I really wish that after importing old phone’s phonebook and Facebook+ Twitter friends, Android would automatically back them online. As it is, I think, it’s only true for contacts already in Google (which I have very few) and created on the phone.

    P.S. I also got Sprint’s U301 3G/4G USB device. I found that I very rarely need it though & I cancelled that line. So if anyone here wants a good deal on a gently used U301, let me know :)

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