Aug 14 2010

Verizon’s Fivespot gets FCC approval by way of ZTE

Category: Industry Happenings — admin @ 9:18 am

This actually happened a few days ago, but since we admittedly weren’t on the lookout for hot filings from Chinese manufacturer ZTE, we totally missed it until we circled back for our FCC Fridays roundup this week. That’s right: what you’re looking at above is a non-carrier-branded version of the Fivespot global mobile hotspot for Verizon that we’d broke the news on last month — and if you sift through the user’s manual in the FCC filing, you’ll see that this is indeed the same thing as the Verizon device. As a refresher, this puppy is supposed to replace the aging MiFi and offer support for triband HSPA alongside EV-DO in the event you’re dying for some 3G coverage outside the States. We’ve heard rumors that it’s been canceled recently to make room for Big Red’s LTE plans, but we’re not sure we buy it since widespread LTE coverage is still a long way out — especially in a tiny, sexy, global mobile hotspot form factor like this. And hey, with FCC approval behind ‘em, why not go ahead and release it?

Verizon’s Fivespot gets FCC approval by way of ZTE originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 21 2010

Verizon launching $80 5GB prepaid data plan next month, FiveSpot too?

Category: Industry Happenings — admin @ 4:18 pm

At present, Verizon only offers prepaid mobile broadband in buckets ranging from 100MB up to 1GB at prices from $15 to $50. Problem is, 1GB goes by in about two seconds if you’re YouTubin’ your way through a layover in Atlanta, enjoying a little too much Hulu and Pandora, or torrenting a few ISOs (perfectly legal ones, of course) — so to that end, we’re hearing that a 5GB option will be launching on August 23 for a breathtaking $80. Presumably, it’d be good for 30 days from the date of purchase the same as the current 1GB plan, though we don’t know that from the information we have. Sounds a little ridiculous to us, but we suppose that’s the price of contract freedom on a top-tier network these days.

On a related note, we’re now hearing that the FiveSpot mobile hotspot we told you about is lined up for a late August launch as well, though we don’t have an exact day, and it’ll be officially replacing the MiFi — makes sense. If you already have a MiFi and you don’t do much international travel, it doesn’t seem like there’s a compelling reason to upgrade, but globetrotters are definitely going to want to check this out.

[Thanks, RBF]

Verizon launching $80 5GB prepaid data plan next month, FiveSpot too? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 19 2010

Verizon FiveSpot CDMA / GSM mobile WiFi hotspot leaks out

Category: Industry Happenings — admin @ 1:19 am

Looks like Verizon’s about to take its mobile data game worldwide — we just got this snap of the “FiveSpot,” a “global ready” mobile WiFi hotspot . That certainly sounds like a hybrid CDMA / UMTS mobile hotspot to us, which makes sense — Verizon already sells a bunch of world phones with dual CDMA and GSM radios, so a globetrotting riff on the MiFi fits right in. Based on the name, we’d guess this supports five simultaneous users, but that’s a guess. No idea when this will hit or how much it might cost, but we’ll keep our eyes open — check the box shot after the break.

Continue reading Verizon FiveSpot CDMA / GSM mobile WiFi hotspot leaks out

Verizon FiveSpot CDMA / GSM mobile WiFi hotspot leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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