freedom-sleeve-ipod-touch, you may like this one (video)!

CA · 07-31-2012, 05:47 PM

There’s been quite a little buzz building around FreedomPop thanks to its ambitious plans to provide freemium wireless Internet to everyone in the United States, not to mention its peculiar 4G-friendly iPhone cases.As it turns out, that’s not all that the Niklas Zennstrom-backed company has been working on behind closed doors. FreedomPop has just announced that it plans to release another 4G-capable case — this time meant for use with the iPod Touch — and has already begun taking pre-orders for the $99 gadget.“We’ve had thousands of inquiries,” FreedomPop marketing VP Tony Miller told me. “[The iPod case] was further down on the roadmap, but we had to push it up.”Like the iPhone case (the “Freedom Sleeve”) before it, the 4G iPod Touch case is basically a WiMax mobile hotspot that’s been designed to wrap around a device instead of sit next to it. Your mileage with the thing is going to vary considering WiMax’s limited footprint, but the company plans to release an updated model compatible with Sprint’s new LTE network in due time. For now though, interested users are going to be in for a bit of a wait — Miller says that the iPod case should be in the wild within “two months at the latest” as actual production of the device hasn’t yet begun.That said, the company’s marketing machine has already kicked into high gear — the company has said that the new case effectively turns an iPod into an iPhone. It’s a juicy message for sure, not one that’s true right out of the gate as users will have to get set up with a VoIP service like Skype to make the phone bit a reality. FreedomPop has cryptically hinted that the ability to make voice calls may soon be folded into its wireless service though, so that statement may ring truer down the line.

http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/31/fre...pricing-plans/

**503ducati** · 07-31-2012, 08:12 PM

http://www.dailywireless.org/2012/07...fd-lte-access/

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7...to-ipod-touch/

4G LTE + 4G WiMAX + 3G

Back in May, FreedomPop started taking preorders for its FreedomSleeve, a $99 iPhone 4/4S case that offered WiMax-based backhaul with local WiFi for the phone — and 1 MB of free “starter” data as well.

Things have changed a bit since then, explains C/Net. It’s also added a second sleeve for the phoneless-iPod. It measures 2.4 inches by 4.5 inches by 0.6 inch — almost exactly the same size as the iPhone 3GS. Its built-in lithium polymer battery (1,450mAh) is good for over 6 hours, according to FreedomPop. The case plugs into the iPod’s docking port, then recharges via what appears to be a Mini-USB connector in the bottom.

The new iPod Touch 4G Sleeve also turns your iPod into a wireless hotspot, allowing up to eight additional devices to connect to it.

The iPod Touch 4G Sleeve offers no-contract nationwide 4G by way of Sprint’s FD-LTE and its 3G data network, as well Clearwire’s WiMax network. That’s a big change from the original FreedomSleeve for iPhone, which was going to be limited to WiMax. The new FreedomSleeve will now also connect to these additional networks and give users 500MB of data for free per month. No voice.

FreedomPop will also give you an extra 10MB per month for each friend you refer, for a maximum of 1GB of free data per month. You can extend that all the way to 5GB by “engaging in partner offers and promotions,” according to FreedomPop.

The iPod Touch Sleeve sells for $99 shipped. FreedomPop says the sleeves will ship in “late summer.”

CA · 08-01-2012, 02:53 AM

Pretty sweet, ain't it, I've always wanted an iPod!

**503ducati** · 08-01-2012, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by CA

Pretty sweet, ain't it, I've always wanted an iPod!

This version is much improved with LTE, WiMAX, and 3G connections. Being a MiFi device, it has some versatility.

**obi_d21** · 08-29-2012, 11:26 PM

will buy as soon as it becomes available. free 500mb and 10$ per gig? thats a good deal

**GadgetKen** · 08-30-2012, 08:34 AM

From the FreedomPop facebook page it looks like the ship date for initial orders is in September. Tri-mode devices to be shipped by the end of the year.

I'm curious to see if other Clear and/or Sprint MVNO's will modify their offerings to compete with this. Thinking competition would be NetZero, Karma, H2O, Millenicom, Virgin Mobile 4G, etc.

Also would like to see if FreedomPop offers a mi-fi device that's not a sleeve...so far they have shown 2 sleeves for Apple devices and a USB stick. Think a mifi device would sell well to the Android tablet and phone crowd.

CA · 08-30-2012, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by GadgetKen

From the FreedomPop facebook page it looks like the ship date for initial orders is in September. Tri-mode devices to be shipped by the end of the year.

I'm curious to see if other Clear and/or Sprint MVNO's will modify their offerings to compete with this. Thinking competition would be NetZero, Karma, H2O, Millenicom, Virgin Mobile 4G, etc.

Also would like to see if FreedomPop offers a mi-fi device that's not a sleeve...so far they have shown 2 sleeves for Apple devices and a USB stick. Think a mifi device would sell well to the Android tablet and phone crowd.

I think they are, there used to be blogging about it, but can't say I blame them, looks like they are trying to get some imediate revenue untill they are for sale. It was a Lte, WIMAX, and CDMA hotspot that looked like the one that Virgin Mobile sells, without the Lte.

Here it is:
http://www.novatelwireless.com/index...mifi&Itemid=12

And here is one of the blog posts:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabet...g-this-summer/

**503ducati** · 08-30-2012, 02:28 PM

Eventually all of these MVNOs will move to Clearwire's pending LTE service as they move away from WiMAX over the next few years.

**GadgetKen** · 08-30-2012, 09:42 PM

The Novatel mifi device FreedomPop might use looks nice. If they put it on FreedomPop's website, I'd order one in a minute. Had a Novatel USB for a while on the ill-fated Slingshot...worked on Sprint and Verizon and had a very nice build quality.

Wish that Clearwire would build out their network a bit though...not just eventually convert to LTE. In some areas they just go for placeholder towers to keep their licenses, or only build where there is very high population concentration, etc.

**503ducati** · 08-31-2012, 12:23 AM

Originally Posted by GadgetKen

The Novatel mifi device FreedomPop might use looks nice. If they put it on FreedomPop's website, I'd order one in a minute. Had a Novatel USB for a while on the ill-fated Slingshot...worked on Sprint and Verizon and had a very nice build quality.

Wish that Clearwire would build out their network a bit though...not just eventually convert to LTE. In some areas they just go for placeholder towers to keep their licenses, or only build where there is very high population concentration, etc.

Tri-Mode could sell, 500MB - 1GB free with $10 for each GB beyond that. That's not unreasonable and an option for those not wanting a contract with varied usage patterns.

CA · 08-31-2012, 05:22 AM

No kidding, FP, Ting and Virgin Mobile all will sell, that contract thing is one thing, but there's the new carrier family plan price increases that may get the ball out of the park! In fact I'm planing on dropping my ATT's Samsung note to 300MB and going without my Verizon data plan when it expires.

I'm just hoping that the auto connection works like it does now with my router!