Sprint is making the case for an iPad 4G -- literally, in leather with pockets for both an iPad Wi-Fi and an Overdrive (think MiFi but with WiMax speed).
The 4G Case has a pocket to house an Overdrive3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, so you can simultaneously connect your iPad™ and four more Wi-Fi enabled devices at 4G speeds anywhere within 4G coverage areas. Meaning now you can use your iPad™ for everything it was built for, and then some.
You can hook up to 5 devices to the Overdrive, and Sprint's already suggested your iPhone be one of them. That leaves room for an iPod touch... and we guess your friends' iPhone and iPad as well!
Any takers?
[Electronista via TUAW]
Reader comments
Sprint makes the case for iPad 4G. Literally.
I'm embarrassed for Sprint.
Do they sell the VoIP service to make your iPhone work on their Overdrive, or are they honestly suggesting 2 mobile carriers?
Idiots.
This is smart! People get a taste of 4G and they won't look back. Good for them. I would do it if I was going to get the crap pad.
Sprint is helping AT&T out just wait til verizon upgrades to 4G
How mutch is it? Does it work in the UK?
How is this an embarrassment?
All I see is that sprint is trying to make a product better with its 4G speeds.
And I'm sorry if you want to be stuck with 3G speed all your life.
Got to say, that's a pretty sick case.
I'm on the 30 day trial period with Sprint's Overdrive. I have to say I'm very impressed with the networks speed. Even in areas without WiMax, 3G speeds are well above 600 Kbps. I'm actually getting average spee of 2 - 2.5 Mbps on 4G and 1-1.5 on 3G.
It's not a perfect solution by any means, and it feels more like a work-around for not having an iPad 3G than anything else. It took me a whole day of fiddling around with the router to make it work with my iPad, but after some twitching, Its worked pretty well.
Battery is a major issue. It won't last more than 3 hours, and it won't charge while it's on. To improve battery life I enabled sleep mode (after 20 min idle). This requires pushing the routers power button, and a 45-60 sec wait for it to connect to the network. There is a battery pack out there (don't remember the manufacturer) that promises to extend usage to up to 10 hours, but it's bulky and heavy.
Overall, these are all minor inconveniences, but it takes away from the whole Apple experience where things "just work". The 60 dls monthly fee and 2 year commitment are making it really hard for me to justify the extra expense.
Anyone else out there with any experience using the Overdrive on their iPad? What is AT&T speed on their HSDPA network? Is it even available?
AT&T has nothing to do with the wifi iPad. Getting people interested in that model to also look into sprint 4G service is simply smart.
Heck, even the 3G model doesn't automatically give money to AT&T - only if you use the 3G. Yes, it is peripherally tied to AT&T, but not directly like the iPhone.
this is not embarrassing, it's called being smart...
I'm not digging those prices, but the speeds sound damned good - plus, I already have a Pre with Sprint.
I may just have to get a damned 3G model, though, so that I can go contractless. If speeds aren't what I had hoped for, then they won't get my money, again, until I am in a real pinch.
Nobody can honestly argue and say this is a bad idea.
I have been using sprints data via wifi for my iPhone for 2 years in an edge only AT&T area
I use the Sprint MiFi with my iPad whenever I'm not in a wifi hotspot and it works great.
I think it's smart that Sprint is doing this, but here are two reasons I'll be sticking with the iPad 3G instead of getting iPad Wifi + Overdrive: 1) Overdrive's 3 hr battery life, and 2) Sprint data plan required. Even if it means slower speeds, I'd rather have no contract and an Internet connection that lasts as long as my iPad battery lasts.
This is cool to advertise but the iPhone one is very misleading. They make it seem like the iphone is getting a voice connection.
i would but it iff: the case and everything you need is no more than $50-60 and their NON-contractual plan is no more than att's...
The core iPhone phone cannot work, but a Skype app is available, as is Google Voice if your iPhone is jailbroke.
As such, you can easily make calls with this particular combination of iPhone and Overdrive, and it would be cheaper than a normal iPhone plan.
Smart move. Sprint wants/needs to grow and this is a way to do it. I have a Clear 4G stick that my wife uses for work. She's mobile but only locally so we can get away with not having a national network which it is for the moment because she never leaves the Raleigh area. The service is extremely fast and incredibly convenient. Clear has a 4G only Overdrive-like product which I have always thought would be ideal if I ever get an iPad. The cost to me would be minimal above and beyond the current monthly charges we pay and I might even be able to lease the equipment so they already have my attention.
I can Dig It.
@the reptile, what router does clear have similar to the overdrive? I've been looking for it and kind find anything that doesn't require connecting it to a commuter via USB.
How is this even remotely feasable for iPad users? That Sprint device is $99 (after rebates...) and $60 a pop. If an iPad user really wants 3G, it would be cheaper to just wait and buy the 3G iPad and just pay AT&t without dealing with a 2 year $60/month contract. Sprint fail.
Ya that's what I want another contract with a carrier like sprint. Ive experienced your 4g it's not that speedy plus it's not everywhere. I can't believe there are still 40 million people with sprint. Had them for 2 years and nothing but problems.
2-2.5mbps on sprint 4G ? I get like 2.1-2.4mbps on AT&T 3G in NY in pletnty areas.
Lol go Sprint.
There's something very futuristic and appealing about carrying around a mini WiFi hotspot with you wherever you go. This service, the hardware, battery-life and availability of high quality 4G signal needs to be markedly improved before people pay extra for a Sprint, Verizon, Google or whatever version.
This might be a quite poor thought by Overdrive. It sounds like we'll have yet a different format for libraries to choose from. So what I see is that libraries will have less choice as it has to purchase ePub, audio, & now Kindle. So that is not going to be good overall for patrons. I for one do not want to see a book I want in Kindle only when there is an ePub version just because someone with a Kindle requested it that way. The way things work now is fine. They way they might work won't be fine. Far from it. What this is going to do is possibly cut the amount of new eBooks at libraries in half.