Hasta La Gadget!

Check it out, Clearwire has decided to do up an Apple-centric version of its Spot 4G hotspot, so it’s quite naturally fashioned it in the shape of a Magic Mouse and stuck an i prefix to the front of the device. Really, there’s nothing new or Apple-exclusive that we can see here — up to eight devices can hook up to this portable 4G emitter via WiFi and the only (see update) authentication required is a password. So yes, like a lot of products before it, the iSpot has done the ignoble thing of associating itself with iPhones, iPads and iPod touches just because those devices are considered the cool kids of the digital playground today. Then again, Clearwire might decide to be difficult and refuse to sell you one of those excellent-sounding $25 (pre-tax) a month 4G broadband packages that go with the iSpot if you don’t have an i-something else in tow. If you’re fancying this curvy little accessory for your mobile gear, it costs $99, but can be had for $29 on sale from Clear today, ahead of an August 10 launch at major retailers.

Update: We followed up with Clearwire regarding authenticating with the iSpot. We’re told that “the device is configured to filter based on MAC address which allows it to ID the Apple mobile devices,” which explicitly means iPhones, iPads and iPod touches only.

Continue reading Clearwire’s 4G iSpot brings wireless broadband to Apple mobile devices (updated)

Clearwire’s 4G iSpot brings wireless broadband to Apple mobile devices (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When we first heard through the grapevine that Best Buy was launching its own branded wireless data service, Connect, rumor had it that 4G was going to be baked right in there. We’d later learn that was just wishful thinking, but today’s announcement of a partnership with Clearwire makes it instead simply look premature. Starting sometime next year, Best Buy Connect will offer 4G wireless data over Clearwire’s WiMAX network — and that’s all the two are saying about this partnership right now. We’re hoping prices for these next-gen data plans stay with their current levels, $30 monthly for 250MB up to $60 for 5GB, but all that extra bandwidth might just make those caps feel even tighter.

Continue reading Best Buy partners with Clearwire, will Connect customers to 4G

Best Buy partners with Clearwire, will Connect customers to 4G originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Does this outline of a really awesome phone ring a bell for you? No? Well, let us toss you a hint: it’s from Samsung, and it’s got WiMAX. That’s right — what you’re looking at is a Sammy bearing model number SPH-D700, which we believe to be the phone you know better as the Epic 4G for Sprint. The test report identifies the D700 as a “Cellular/PCS CDMA/EvDO Phone with Bluetooth, WLAN, and WiMAX,” so unless Samsung’s got another 4G phone for Sprint waiting in the wings, that sounds like pretty damning evidence to us — especially considering that the ID label document’s outline basically matches up with the real device. Interestingly, Sprint has yet to commit to a release date for the Epic, which leads us to wonder whether it was waiting for this to happen… let’s hope.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Samsung’s Epic 4G for Sprint looks to score FCC approval originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s not like you couldn’t snag an Overdrive from Sprint or an IntelliGo from Time Warner Cable, but if you’re dead-set on nabbing your WiMAX gear directly from Clearwire, we’ve good splendiferous news to share. The 4G-only Spot 4G and 3G / 4G Spot 4G+ (which is just a rebadged Overdrive, shown here) were up for pre-order prior to today, but now both are available in-store and online nationwide. In case the prices have slipped your mind, the Spot 4G will run you $99.99 (or $4.99 per month on a lease) with service plans starting at $40/month, while the Spot 4G+ goes for $224.99 (or $5.99 per month on a lease) with service plans starting at $55/month. Surf on, surfers.

Continue reading Clearwire ships Spot 4G and Spot 4G+ WiMAX portable hotspots

Clearwire ships Spot 4G and Spot 4G+ WiMAX portable hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In case you needed any more evidence that Samsung’s Epic 4G for Sprint is probably going to be awesome, you might take a gander at the competitive analysis they’ve prepared against the iPhone 4, Droid Incredible, and Droid X as an ego-boosting checklist for reps prepping to sell the phone in the coming weeks. The DLNA support trumpeted, but HDMI’s notably missing — something its EVO 4G sibling has — and it’ll be up to customers to decide whether 4-inch Super AMOLED is better than 4.3-inch LCD. Unsurprisingly, the Epic will “feature” the same $10 data surcharge that the EVO has, something that we’re guessing is going to end up being phased in over Sprint’s entire smartphone lineup over time — you know, kind of like those delivery service “fuel surcharges” that end up becoming permanent after a while. Anyhow, the Epic looks killer on paper, but if anything, the chart only underscores how incredibly stiff its competition is going to be. Choice is good, is it not?

Sprint lines up Epic 4G against the competition, likes its chances originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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