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FreedomPop's "free broadband" project is a WiMAX-ed iPhone case that gets you 1GB of monthly data

By Daniel Petrov

Published: Mar 21, 2012, 8:47 AM

FreedomPop's "free broadband" project is a WiMAX-ed iPhone case that gets you 1GB of monthly data

The wacky "free broadband" FreedomPop MVNO project of Skype's founder Niklas Zennstrom materialized in the funny form of an iPhone 4/4S case with a WiMAX radio in it (similar to the ZTE Peel), that's good for 30 hours on battery.

You get 1GB of free monthly data with the case, and overages will run you ten bucks per each additional GB. Airwaves supplier is Clearwire, and, while its WiMAX coverage is less than stellar compared to what the big boys are offering, it still beats 3G speeds by a large margin. FreedomPop is allegedly talking with other carriers to come aboard, but nothing is in the certain yet, and it plans to move to LTE speeds when Clearwire has them.

The catch? You can't do voice calls over the cellular network with the case, and you have to allegedly dole out a $75 refundable deposit for it. The FreedomPop project hopes to make money off the kindness of your heart when you buy accompanying services, the types of which are still shrouded in mystery. The "freemium" service's intentions are that paying customers will subsidize the meager 1GB allotment to the stingy ones.

source: FreedomPop via FierceWireless

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.