Sprint: iPad has increased demand for 3G and 4G mobile hotspots
Sprint CEO, Dan Hesse, says his company has seen an increase in the demand for their 3G and 4G Overdrive wireless hotspot devices since the launch of the iPad. He also noted that most iPads sold are the WiFi only model and they have become increasingly reliant upon devices such as their Overdrive to have connectivity on the go.
When the iPad launch back in April, Sprint released a 4G case that could not only carry the iPad but also had a pocket for their Overdrive wireless hotspot to allow users to be totally mobile anywhere they want.
Not only has Sprint targeted iPad users but they have also featured the iPhone in a commercial they used to show off the features of the Overdrive wireless hotspot and point out its speeds are up to 10 times faster than AT&T's 3G speeds.
The iPad that has 3G capabilities is not compatible with Sprint's network and Sprint is still seeing increased sales thanks to Apple's immensely popular tablet. With the iPad being sold by Verizon now, will Apple also work out a deal to have Sprint carry the device? Are you using Sprint's Overdrive device bundled with your WiFi only iPad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
[ Gigaom ]
by Brian Tufo
Your source for everything iPhone and iPad. More news, more how-tos, more app and accessory reviews. iMore.
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I got that combo, iPad wifi + overdrive. I don't get 4G on my area yet, but it's still a great combination. I'm able to connect the iPad or the laptop when I'm traveling, I love the freedom. The overdrive is a backup Internet connection while working from home, I can't do any work without connectivity.
I too use my Sprint MiFi with my iPad. I prefer this combo rather than the embedded 3G iPad because sometimes when I'm out and have both my computer and iPad I can connect both to the Internet. I'm going to go out and buy an Overdrive this coming weekend since I have 4G in my area.
Yep. If you have multiple wifi enabled devices, just get the mifi, since the iPad or even the iphone doesn't support tethering like the evo or other android devices.
not only I'm using the overdrive for my iPad but also with my iDevices.
I got an iPad and overdrive combo and I kept having problems with wifi cutting out. Very frustrating. I ended up trying another exchange and nothing worked. After 2 weeks of exchanges and trips to bestbuy and tech support from both apple and sprint failing to provide a resolution I finally gave up. I see a lot of other people having similar issues on the forums so I know I'm not a lone. Is this not a problem anymore? May have to give this another try. I've been waiting for sprint to come out with an Overdrive 2 release.
I use the wifi iPad with the tethering function on my Evo 4g. It works great, luckily I have 4 g speeds in my area of Los Angeles.
I use my overdrive with my iPad. It works seamlessly. Why pay for the 3G when you can get broadband speed wherever you go?!? Also, I use it with the iPad and the iPhone together since you can tether up to 5 devices at once!
Verizon MIfi and iPad combo since day one of the iPad launch. Even if the speeds are the same, a mifi/iPad combo beats built in 3G because Sprint and Verizon work in so many more places than ATT..... I travel alot, and often times in rural areas, VZW has shown itself to work in many places that my iPhone does not work. Truth is, in my experience , it's not even close. My wifi signal is one I can rely on, My iPhone ATT signal is not reliable. Many times I can only get edge data on my iPhone when traveling. With VZW it seems that if you have a signal at all, it's most likely 3G. Haven't seen a 1x Verizon signal in years. Using a sprint or Vzw mifi/overdrive etc with an ipad
I have Sprint Overdrive with iPad and 4G recently came to my area. I like that it works for all my devices, but the only issue I have is with battery life. What I really want is an iPad with it's 10 hours of battery life able to act as a 4G wifi hotspot.
It would be even better if speeds were consistent over the course of the day when located in a single spot. Although concisently above 500 Kbps, it should really be much faster. My iphone's 3G can go as high as 2.2 Mbps on a good day.
Virgin Mobile (Sprint) has a $40 unlimited plan. The MiFi works well, but I don't think Sprint anticipated the increase in sales.
I forgot to mention that Virgin's plan doesn't require a contract. It sort of like what ATT offered to early adopters, but cancelled.
Awesome. Thanks for the info, Mark.
I've also been using the Verizon Mifi + iPad combo since day one. I had the mifi already for my MacBook, so it made the most sense to get the wifi iPad. I love it + even use the Mifi with my iPhone when it can't get connection on the AT+T side.
Be careful. My understanding is that Sprints network is now being maintained under cotract to Erikisson by a skeleton staff. (1/3 of what it was when everyone was a Sprint employee) And the quality is fading quickly.
I got a wi-fi hotspot from Clear (which I think uses Sprint's 4G network). It's not bad though the battery life for the hotspot is horrendous (only 4 hours).