by Larry Magid
LAS VEGAS--On the eve of CES, Sprint announced its Overdrive 3G/4G
Mobile Hotspot, a 4.5-ounce device measuring 3.15 by 3.14 inches by
.61 inch that creates its own Wi-Fi hot spot.
The Overdrive can serve up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices with a range
of about 150 feet. I'm using it now with my laptop, an iPhone, and the
new HTC Nexus One smartphone, which runs Google's Android operating
system and supports Wi-Fi connectivity.
The device, which is manufactured in an unlocked state, can support
Sprint's 3G and 4G networks. 3G connectivity, which supports speeds up
to 3 megabits per second, is available in most parts of the United
States. Typically, 3G runs between .5Mbps and 1.5Mbps.
Sprint's 4G network, which, in theory, can operate at up to 10Mbps, is
currently available in 27 markets, including here, but it is slated to
be rolled out to several more markets this year. By the end of 2010,
Sprint says its 4G network will reach as many as 120 million people in
the country.
At CES, I spoke with Steve Elfman, Sprint's president of network
operations and wholesale, who described the device and how the company
plans to roll it out in 2010.
Correction, 1:23 p.m.: This post mischaracterized how widespread
Sprint's 4G network is slated to become this year. It is expected to
be rolled out to several U.S. markets beyond its current 27.
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