Sprint has launched the 4G Case for Apple iPad which has a pocket to house an Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, so you can simultaneously connect your Apple iPad and four more Wi-Fi enabled devices (think, iPhone) at 4G speeds anywhere within 4G coverage areas.
Visit any participating Best Buy to purchase an iPad and for a limited time get the 4G Case and Overdrive for free. Valid from April 16-23, while supplies last.
The Overdrive lets you sync up with any Wi-Fi device, like computers, phones, e-readers and portable game consoles. And when you’re outside of 4G coverage areas, it’ll automatically switch over to Sprint’s 3G network, so you can get online almost anywhere. The Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless sold separately.
See Sprint’s 4G Cities here.
Everybody is hopping on the iPad/iPhone bandwagon!
Guess who sprinted there first? LoL!
Okay, someone please un-confuse me. The Sprint info page states:
“The Overdrive™ lets you sync up with any Wi-Fi device, like computers, phones, e-readers and portable game consoles. And when you’re outside of 4G coverage areas, it’ll automatically switch over to Sprint’s 3G network, so you can get online almost anywhere.”
Is this 3G/4G converted from wi-fi or do you need a 3G iPad?
Silverhawk, I believe it still acts as a wi-fi access point so will work with your non-3G iPad, but it just hooks up to Sprint’s 3G network instead of 4G if 4G’s not available.
@silverhawk
You can use any device with the Overdrive so long as it has Wi-Fi. So either a Wi-Fi only or 3G with Wi-Fi will work with the Overdrive.
@silverhawk
I believe the unit is an independent wi-fi hot spot. You don’t need an iPad at all. You can use it to connect any wi-fi device including laptops, desktops, X-Box…. or an iPad.
$65 a month for the plan, $35 to set up and $250 for the Overdrive, a really cheap way to get an iPad case, go for it!
Find a Best Buy with iPads on hand. That’s the catch.
It’s a WWAN device acting as a mobile hotspot, that any wifi device can connect to, like an iPad. The key is, how much does the subscription cost. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to get a non-subscription iPad 3G?
if they coulda done it for 29.99 a month with an attractive no contract like the att deal i woulda gone for it but when it costs more then my house internet and i phone internet plan combined they crazy i dont care if its going at 5g
The price point is not where I’d jump on it yet, but it’s close. For example: If I signed up for the service and they threw in the device with a contract, I’d be fine.
Another aspect is both my wife and I both have iPhones and if I purchased an iPad and got the 3G service for $14/month, our total data plan would be $75/month.
However, what I don’t believe is that AT&T;will even “let” me cancel my data plan on the iPhones to get any cost benefit from using such a device as this from another carrier.
Unless I’m wrong, iPhone users are pretty much stuck with the AT&T;data plan and the price point just for the iPad is way too high.
12 metros in texas from a fairly short list. So unless you live in Teabaggerland, Tx it’s all theoretical.
Austin isn’t exactly “teabaggerland”.
Anybody know the battery life on the 4G mobile hotspot? Can it outlast the iPad’s battery? If not, I don’t see the purpose of this.
Austin is a solitary oasis in a vast cultural wasteland, and on the coasts it would be considered pretty conservative.
To all you Texas haters, I have a blue Congressman, I go to the beach every weekend, and our high temps haven’t varied outside 70-80 in two months. Enjoy your weather extremes.
For those people trying to figure out the Sprint device, compare it to wired broadband. I pay $50 each month for wired broadband to my home. But I only have it at home. With the Sprint Overdrive you can take your broadband with you anywhere, the coffee shop, school, work, in the car, or on the beach. If you look at it as paying $10/month more for portability then it seems to be a great deal (if you ditch the wire into your home).
The one thing I haven’t seen tech notes on is whether a Time Capsule can extend an Overdrive network. That would be the important part for me.
Damn. At first I thought it said you get a free Hot Pocket with an iPad purchase. Those things are tasty!
Cubert, you gave me a good laugh. Thanks!
I am confused by the wording in paragraph two of the announcement above implies that when you buy an iPad at Best Buy you get a free cover with mobile hotspot pocket plus the 4G Overdrive component itself. Is this simply poor wording or reading, or is this in fact true? Then the only expense for access over cell phone waves using iPads sans 3G ATT access would be Sprint monthly access charges?
My Company was going to get me a 3G dongle to connect to my laptop while on the road. I convinced them to get me an Overdrive instead so I could connect my iPhone and iPad to it as well. Got it off of Amazon for $49, the Company is paying the $60 subscription. Got it lt week, it’s nice! I like the idea of this better than the 3G iPad – I can connect up to 5 devices to this, as opposed to ONLY having a 3G iPad connected to AT&T;’s 3G service. I have also seen spots around Metro Detroit where I don’t have 3G service on my iPhone, but do have service on my Overdrive via Sprint. The coverage around here seems to be a lot more consistent with Sprint.
I’m not a Texas hater- I used to live in San Antonio- but Texas sends some real jewels to Austin and Washington.
What I was getting at above was that Texas is covered, but most of the rest of the US is spotty at best. I guess the folks down in Texas can enjoy streaming Faux Newz and Limbaugh in HD…
@BatteryLife?
Last week I was getting around 3.5 hours off of a full charge. I did end up buying a USB Car Charger, and charge the Overdrive in between stops. This weekend, we left it plugged in while driving around, and my daughter was using my iPad. For long driving trips, this is going to be nice.
I have one of these and believe me they suck it will not let you download big apps or movies it’s extremmly slow and unresponsive plus it’s a two year contract 5 gb a month package, do your self a favor do not get this test it out first.
That’s what I had suspected, it is Sprint, after all…
@Powers –
I used mine all last week around Metro Detroit in 3G mode and never had a problem. Admittedly I’m not doing a lot of heavy lifting with it, but I didn’t see any problem with what I was doing – including using it to connect my MacBook to my Company’s network to reply to several emails, check inventory, and make sure some orders had shipped. It’s definitely not WiFi fast in 3G mode, but it’s as fast and as stable as one of those 3G USB Dongle devices. My daughter used it this weekend to stream RadioDisney to my iPad while we were driving around (thankfully while she was wearing some earbuds!!), and she didn’t notice any drop outs or delays.
Did you update your Overdrive software? I’ve seen reports online of people having problems, but after updating their device the problems went away.
I use the sprint overdrive. I only get 3G speed in my area but it works fine. It allows me to use my iPad as a big gps. It works with up to 5 devices at a time. I get a 27% discount which bring the sevice down to about 45$. It is very worth it especially when 4g service rolls out will be up to 10 x faster than 3G. Very nice and easy to set up.