This article was published on August 6, 2013

Free Internet provider FreedomPop begins offering LTE mobile hotspots with 500MB of monthly data


Free Internet provider FreedomPop begins offering LTE mobile hotspots with 500MB of monthly data

FreedomPop has launched sales of a new mobile hotspot in the USA with LTE service from Sprint and 500MB of free data per month.

The company previously offered 4G and 3G hotspot service and is now making good on a promise to also provide LTE. Average speeds are listed at 6 to 8 Mbps down with peak speeds of 25 Mbps. Partner offers and friend referrals can expand data access beyond the free allotment.

FreedomPop is aggressively pushing down margins in the wireless industry with its free data service. Its free phone plans will take things one step further when they arrive later this summer and are bound to draw ire from the major operators. Some of the Freedom Phone devices, as they’ll be called, will also come with LTE capability.

The company is also planning to introduce several other devices on Sprint’s LTE network later this year, including smartphones through its new Freedom Phone plans.

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The FreedomPop hotspot I carry in my bag has earned its permanent place. It was a lifesaver last week while working from cafes with spotty and nonexistent WiFi in San Francisco. It’s a rare month where I need more than 500MB of hotspot data, so it’s essentially a free backup connection.

In July, FreedomPop announced a $5 million extension of its Series A round from existing investors DCM Capital and Mangrove Capital to help it accelerate its Freedom Phone launch.

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