March 27th looks like it will be a very busy day for T-Mobile. Not only is it planning on launching the T-Mobile Sonic 2.0 Mobile HotSpot LTE, but it will also be launching the Blackberry Z10 on the same day. The Blackberry Z10 will be capable of utilizing T-Mobile’s 4G LTE data network. The Samsung Galaxy S III LTE should also be released and will be fully capable of taking advantage of T-Mobile’s LTE network. Finally, there is the Samsung Galaxy Exhibit that is supposed to be the U.S. variant of the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini, however we don’t believe it should be touting any 4G LTE bands.

It has also been rumored several times that T-Mobile should be launching the iPhone on its network sometime around late March as well, although it doesn’t appear on the road map. It could be that T-Mobile is being very secretive about its iPhone launch because it plans on holding a separate, grand event altogether for it. T-Mobile has been left out of the iPhone game for a long time, with all 3 of the other major carriers selling iPhones on their networks while it had to compete without it.

It looks like T-Mobile will be fully stocked for its LTE network, whenever it decides to launch it. It can be any day from now, but we’re hoping that it’s sooner rather than later. T-Mobile is the last carrier to launch its LTE network, with AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint well on their way of getting their LTE network to cover as many people as possible. T-Mobile will be launching its LTE network in Las Vegas first, and moving onto Kansas City afterwards.

[via TmoNews]

The device is designed to provide high-speed wireless Internet access using 802.11n technology. The mobile hotspot has a high capacity internal 2000 mAh battery to power its internal 3G modem. The device promises operate for 7 to 10 hours per charge.

The device can also be powered by a micro USB cable connected to a laptop, portable charger, or an included power adapter to extend runtime and recharge the device. The portable hotspot has a SIM card slot supporting HSPA+ 3G broadband connectivity with download speeds of up to 21 Mbps. The portable modem also supports upload speeds of up to 5.7 Mbps.

Other features include an internal microSD card slot supporting cards up to 32 GB allowing the hotspot to function as a portable hard drive. That storage space can be shared with any device is connected to the portable modem. Little device also supports multiple security formats including WEP, WPA, and several others. Pricing and availability are unknown at this time.

You’ll be able to add this little monster to your Mobile Share plan for $20 USD a month and will be able to use your shared “bucket” of data with your family across their smartphones and tablets on AT&T as well. You can manage each connected device via the touchscreen interface on the Unite and are able to block unwanted devices from joining (and there’s password protection in place as well, of course, if you just want to skip that step altogether.)

This device takes the greatness of the Liberate and changes it up a bit with a slightly more light-hearted design. For those of you that want white or pearlescent devices in your pockets only, at all times, the Unite will be the winner for your fashionable heart. This machine has a slightly different user interface than the Liberate works with, here simplifying the way you’re tapping with the slightly larger display size – this allowing more finger-sized buttons to fit, of course.

This device will be available soon from your local AT&T store – check it out and let us know how it goes! Make sure you take a peek at the Liberate as well, it being created by Novatel Wireless and coming in as a winner in our books.

A company called Eyetease will place the hotspots inside city cabs. Eyetease received approval from Transport for London to rollout the high-speed service over the course of next year. The plan to put hotspots inside the cabs, dubbed CabWifi, has been in the works for nearly 2 years.

The hotspots will use an ads for access model requiring passengers to sit through a 15-second advertisement for every 15 minutes they spend using the free Wi-Fi access. According to Eyetease, the average taxi passenger spends about 15 minutes in the cab. That means they should see at least one advertisement.

The service also provides the cabdriver a separate login that allows them to use the hotspot at no cost to offset any data fees that the driver might have to pay for using apps or other web-based information during their day. The hardware inside the cab will automatically change between 3G and 4G networks depending on availability.

[via TheNextWeb]

Update: Sources close to the situation now tell us that, in fact, the acquisition did not go ahead, and that has been confirmed by ICOA’s chairman. It’s unclear why the press release was published, and there’s no official comment from Google at this time.

Google has said little about its motivations for the deal, beyond the terse comment that it “looks to further diversity its already impressive portfolio of companies.” However, it’s not hard to imagine how a network of wireless connectivity points across the US could help Google’s cloud ambitions, particularly when it comes to scything away at the control exerted by carriers.

For instance, Google’s Chrome OS is heavily dependent on an internet connection for its cloud-based storage, apps, and services; Google Voice, meanwhile, offers a VoIP alternative to traditional cellphone calls, but demands a data connection in order to do so. Google has had some success of late working around the traditional subsidy model of cellphone sales, with the Nexus 4 sold at a competitive rate off-contract and unlocked, but it’s still reliant on a carrier’s SIM.

With a network of WiFi connectivity, however, Google could operate its own telecoms alternative, providing users of its services with a way to get online that didn’t involve working with AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or others. ICOA also specializes in “design, installation, operation, maintenance and management” of hotspots, which could be useful skills as Google’s broadband deployment continues.

Of course, Google isn’t the only company wanting to work around traditional carriers. Steve Jobs apparently hoped to use a WiFi alternative with the original iPhone, having challenged Apple engineers to discover ”whether synthetically you could create a carrier using WiFi spectrum”; Microsoft, meanwhile, is believed to have had a similar goal in mind when it decided to acquire Skype.

Update: Looks like this is a case of a rogue press release. No official comment from Google, though sources tell us that the reported ICOA deal is not, in fact, authentic. We’re waiting to hear back from ICOA itself, but the company’s CEO apparently told TechCrunch that no negotiations had been in progress.

Update 2: ICOA chairman George Strouthopoulos tells us that the company believes the press release was pushed out by “a stock promoter with a dubious interest” in the following statement:

This is NOT TRUE!! Never had any discussions with any potential acquirers!! This is absolutely false!

Someone, I guess a stock promoter with a dubious interest, is disseminating wrong, false and misleading info in the PR circles.

ICOA will report this to the proper authorities.

Update 3: ICOA chief financial officer Erwin Vahlsing, Jr. tells us that the report “is false.”

Users will be able to bring in their iPhone or Android smartphone and use the 3G connection as they normally would, but apparently enabling hotspot functionality is a no-no: “Personal / private wireless access points and 3G hubs (smart devices such as Android phones, iPhone and tablets are permitted inside venues, but must not be used as wireless points to connect multiple devices).”

There are several explanations we can think of for the ban. Interference is the first and foremost: mobile networks are already going to be packed to the brim thanks to the sheer number of people descending on one location, so adding a couple of hundred (thousand?) hotspots into the mix probably won’t help the limited spectrum availability.

Still, GigaOm believes there may be some funny business going on, as BT is the official hotspot provider for Olympic venues, charging £5.99 for 90 minutes or £9.99 for 24 hours worth of access. Draw your own conclusions. If you and your friends happen to be in the area and ride the information superhighway tgoether, make sure to use an inauspicious hotspot name. Something along the lines of “This is definitely not a hotspot” should do the trick.

[via IntoMobile]

New York City announced in April that some of those phone books would become digital kiosks with SmartScreens instead of phones inside. The smart screens would provide information on the local neighborhood, restaurants, and landmarks to visit. I think most citizens will get more use out of free Wi-Fi than a SmartScreen. The first hotspot booths were activated yesterday with Wi-Fi routers attached to the top of the phone booth.

Six of the phone booths are located in Manhattan. Two are in Brooklyn, and one is in Queens. The city plans to roll out additional locations in the Bronx and Staten Island soon. The city worked with two companies, Van Wagner and Titan, to deploy the Wi-Fi hotspots and provide ads of the booths. Those companies paid for the cost of the project including installation, management, and customer service. The cities pay nothing extra for the hotspots. The hotspots have a range of 100 to 200 feet around the phone booth.

[via ABC News]

Today New York City began rolling out a plan that will see many of the city’s old payphone kiosks turned into wireless access points. So far, only 10 kiosks have been converted to 24/7 hotspots across Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, with the plan being to eventually set up many more hotspots across all five boroughs. Have a look at the list of locations where these hotspots are now up and running, courtesy of Gothamist:

Brooklyn

• 545 Albee Square
• 2 Smith Street

Queens

• 30-94 Steinway Street

Manhattan

• 402 West Broadway
• 458 Seventh Avenue
• 28 West 48th Street
• 410 Madison Avenue
• 1609 Broadway
• 1790 Broadway
• 230 West 95th Street

Kiosks equipped with Wi-Fi service will have the words “Free Wi-Fi” plastered all over them, and once you’re within range of the signal (100-200 feet), all you need to do is select the “Free Wi-Fi” option on your device and agree to the terms of use. When you’re finished with that, you’re free to browse the internet at your leisure.

One of the best features is that the data you buy never expires as long as you use it at least once per year. That means you can buy 100 MB of data for only $10 and it lasts until you use it, even if you only use it occasionally for checking e-mail on the go. There are other plans for people who consume more data.

For $25, you can get 500 MB of data and $45 will get you 1 GB of data. All of the plans have data that never expires as long as you meet the one use per year criteria. It’s not clear how much the hotspot will cost, but I’d wager it would be in the $99 range.

[via Bloomberg]

The Karma 4G hotspot will cost $69 and when the user signs up, they get 100 MB of free data. When the user goes around other people with their 4G hotspot, strangers and friends can join the open network the device makes. Users who join the open Karma hotspot network will have to sign in via their Facebook account.

When the users sign in using Facebook, they also get 100 MB of free data and the owner of the device gets an extra 100 MB of free data. Basically, you get free data when you let strangers share your device. If no one signs into your device to give you free data, you can buy more data for $14.99 per gigabyte. Karma operates on the Clearwire 4G WiMax network.

[via Gottabemobile]

Seamless transition between 3G CDMA, WiMAX and LTE is promised, and there’s integrated GPS for adding location data to LBS and apps. A 1.7-inch 160 x 128 LCD on the top panel shows battery life, details on how many devices are connected at any one time, and the status of the data link.

Sierra Wireless reckons the 4G LTE Tri-Fi is good for up to 150 feet WiFi range outdoors, or up to 115 feet indoors, and the hotspot will roll back to EVDO Rev.0 and 1xRTT data connections when you’re at the fringes of coverage. The whole thing measures in at 3.84 x 2.25 x 0.95 inches and weighs 4.87oz with the standard 3,600 mAh battery.

Charging is via microUSB, and the hotspot will also operate as a tethered modem if you plug it in direct to your computer. The Tri-Fi hotspot will go on sale May 18, priced at $99.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate and with a two-year service agreement. Plans, meanwhile, will kick off at $34.99 for 3GB of combined 3G/4G data, rising to $49.99 for 6GB of combined 3G/4G data or $79.99 for 12GB of 3G/4G data.

Verizon will also be introducing a prepaid option for the Jetpack 4G LTE mobile hotspot MiFi 4510L. Users will be able to use the Jetpack to connect up to 5 WiFi-enabled devices to Verizon’s 4G LTE network simultaneously. The prepaid plans for the hotspot include $15 for 250MB of data weekly, $60 for 3GB of data monthly, or $90 for 10GB of data monthly.

The Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE mobile hotspot is priced at $129.99, while the Samsung Illusion is priced at $169.99. Both devices are available at Verizon’s retail stores as well as at its online store. They will also be available at Best Buy, RadioShack, and Walmart.

Developed by Novatel Wireless, the Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE MiFi 4620L was first introduced at CES earlier this year. With the Jetpack mobile hotspot you can enjoy blazing fast 4G LTE data speeds and connect up to 10 WiFi-enabled devices simultaneously. It also works well for business travelers that frequent abroad, providing internet access in 205 countries, including 125 with 3G speeds.

The Verizon Jetpack features a multicolor LED status indicator and an interactive OLED display that lets you scroll through menu options, security settings, battery life status, and data usage alerts. Data packages for the mobile hotspot start at $50 per month for 5GB of data.

[via Verizon]

The new iPad may be getting the most attention for its dazzling Retina display but the massive new battery inside deserves plenty of praise as well. Apple has beefed up the battery from 6,944 mAh to 11,666 mAh, almost doubling the capacity while managing to keep the new iPad’s physical size the same as its predecessor.

With the Retina display turned off, Anandtech was able to use the new iPad as a personal hotspot for 25.3 hours on a single charge. The Verge performed its own test based on this claim, finding that the new iPad was indeed able to last more than 24 hours if the notifications and push email accounts were disabled in addition to the display being turned off

But in overall battery performance, the new iPad doesn’t appear to last as long as the iPad 2. The much larger battery not only has to fuel the Retina display but also a new processor with four times the graphics processing muscle. Additionally, the new iPad seems to last about an hour less when using LTE instead of WiFi.

[via AppleInsider]

The idea is to begin using the phone’s SIM card as an authentication for WiFi roaming. WiFi roaming will be based on WBA’s “Next Generation Hotspot” program, plus the “Certified Passpoint” initiative. That will allow devices to locate Passpoint networks in the background, as well as doing away with a browser-based login system.

All of this is to make sure you’re connected to a WiFi network whenever possible, taking strain off mobile networks as consumers continue to pile on to limited spectrum and bandwidth availability. What the GSMA and WBA are proposing would require a lot of work, though: mobile operators with their own wireless hotspots would need to be onboard, and then the new SIM authentication would need to be implemented into every new smartphone. There’s also the problem of making sure existing smartphones would work with the new technology.

There’s no timeline for any of this, either. By the time any of this is available, mobile networks could be faster than what the average wireless hotspot has to offer, not to mention the promise of more power efficient LTE chipsets on the horizon.

[via PRNewswire]

The currently shipping Nokia Lumia 800 and 710 handsets are expected to receive the new tethering support sometime soon via an over-the-air Zune update. Although Nokia hasn’t announced a specific time frame, the update will likely arrive around or slightly before the Nokia Lumia 610 and 900 launch, since both devices will have the feature out of the box.

The Lumia 610 and 900 are expected to arrive in late March or early April. Recent rumors peg the 900 for either an April 8 or April 22 launch. Adding tethering support is a wise move for Nokia to stand out because many consumers demand it while the majority of Windows Phone devices currently do not have this hotspot functionality.

[via GottaBeMobile]

Apple’s Personal Hotspot first debuted with the iPhone 4 last year and AT&T began supporting the feature on the iPhone last March. But when it comes to the latest iPad, AT&T says it is still working with Apple to enable the feature in the future, but did not give a specific timetable.

Verizon’s data plans for the new iPad include the hotspot feature by default and are available in four options. It will cost $20 for 1GB of data per month, $30 for 2GB, $50 for 5GB, and $80 for 10GB. AT&T’s plans will not have the hotspot feature, but start with lower-priced tiers of $15 for 250MB per month, $30 for 3GB, and $50 for 5GB. Overages are rated at $10 per GB.

[via CNET]

Both the hotspot and the dongle being detailed here will upgrade Rogers up until now fastest speeds of 12 to 25 Mbps all the way up to 40 Mbps. That’s quite a jump for those of you out there only cruising at such a speed whist watching your streams of Terrance and Phillip all day long. These devices will also be amongst the first to be connecting to the 2600MHz band, a band that’s not been used by LTE devices thus far.

Both of these devices will be able to run on Rogers HSPA+ network as well, all of these coming in at right around $22.93 Canadian a month. You can get into this deal on a tablet plan for $7.93 Canadian a month, but exact details on the tablet plan have not yet been revealed in full. You’ll be busting out at speeds you never before thought possible in one way or another very soon! Get red with Rogers!

Beginning on February 6, Nintendo Zone locations will offer full-length episodes of the animated Pokemon TV series. Of course, you have to be in the connected zone area to watch them. In addition to the TV episodes, Nintendo is doling out a dedicated section where gamers can see the latest Pokemon news and watch videos about the latest games and trading cards. Every Nintendo product or service always gets a bump when Pokemon come on board, so perhaps Nintendo Zone will start to gain a little more name recognition.

If you haven’t heard of Nintendo Zone before, it is trying to become a social app haven of sorts for the 3DS. For example, going to a Best Buy that has a Nintendo Zone area will let customers download special coupons that can be redeemed in-store. In addition to Best Buy, they are deployed around coffee shops, restaurants, hotels, and airports. To find the nearest Nintendo Zone to you, you can check out http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/nintendozone.

[via Gaming Age]

Each of these devices is able to be coupled with a $35 a month “unlimited 4G” plan, but know this: we’ve heard more than a few people complain that Clear has been throttling their data speeds after something so simple as a single streamed movie. It’s no kind customer you’re going to get, Clearwire, if you’re only tending to the people who use your data for checking email. That sort of customer is soon to be extinct, mark my words.

The specifications here are quite similar to last year’s Clear Spot 4G Apollo, though here we’ve got a cheaper price as well as one less screen to worry about. Both of these devices are tiny enough to be portable all day long, and you’ll certainly want to test one out if you get the chance before pulling the trigger. They look fabulous, and they’ve got OK potential, but if you’re used to Verizon’s LTE network, for example, you’re going to have a rude awakening when you expect the 4G here to be the same.

The Smartphone Mobile Hotspot service lets you share your 4G connection with multiple devices and usually costs about $15 per month. The MobileLife Album Plus service lets you backup photos and videos to the cloud with up to 10GB of storage for about $5 a month. With the upcoming promotion, you’ll be able to get both for free if you sign up for either the Unlimited Premium 5GB or 10GB data plans.

The deal will kick off on January 25 and will be available for a limited time. Both new and existing customers on a legacy contract, classic, and value rate plans can take advantage of the promotion. However, the cost to upgrade to the new plans has not been revealed yet.

[via TMoNews]

The Nintendo 3DS already has access to free WiFi at various locations, including AT&T’s hotspots as well as at Best Buy. But the addition of 42 airports can certainly be appreciated by families planning to travel this holiday season. The airports supported will include Chicago’s O’Hare, New York’s JFK, and Houston’s George Bush airports.

“With the holiday season approaching, more leisure travelers and families with children will fill our airports and have access to our hotspots,” said Colby Goff, senior vice president of strategy and business development for Boingo Wireless. “Our state-of-the-art networks will provide Nintendo 3DS users with seamless connectivity and fast, reliable service to help them make the most of their travel downtime.”

The latest Nintendo 3DS system update should automatically allow access to Boingo’s Wi-Fi hotspots. The update is expected to be available today.

[via VentureBeat]

The leaked memo informs the carrier’s employees to “educate” customers that the Hot Spot feature advertised on the packaging is not yet available, but will arrive with the first major software update in Q4. This means that at least the BlackBerry Torch 9850 will soon be getting the much requested feature.

It’s unclear at this point, whether the other BlackBerry 7 OS devices released recently, such as the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and the BlackBerry Torch 9810, will also be getting the mobile Hot Spot capability in the next update. The feature could be carrier-specific.

[via CrackBerry]

With Skype WiFi, you can access the internet at over 1 million WiFi hotspots worldwide, including at airports, hotels, convention centers, train stations, bars, and restaurants. The service is charged per minute using Skype Credits so that you don’t need to buy an hour or a day’s worth of usage.

The app also does not limit how much data you use for uploading or downloading files. Instead, it simply charges by usage time, starting at $0.06 per minute. It is available to download for free from Apple’s App Store and works on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 4.1 or above.

[via Skype]

The three parks getting free WiFi today are Battery Bosque in Battery Park, the north-end playground in Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx, and around the recreation center at Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem. We will have to see if this new service improves the overall atmosphere of the parks. No doubt these parks are going to become popular places for anonymous web activity. Not secret activity, anything done via these open networks is viewable by others. So, don’t log into your checking account or personal email from the park.

Is this just a PR move for good publicity, or is this a caring company that wants to invest in the community? Who knows? Regardless, we think it is a great idea. There are some that believe the Internet was meant to be free, but that is a different discussion. This move is part of New York’s Digital City initiative, and it is also an attempt to get city goers to spend more time outdoors. An interesting idea, as electronics and computers usually entice people to stay indoors.

[via AT&T]

Stay tuned to SlashGear and our sister site Android Community for more coverage of this huge truckload of news that will be rolling in over the next few days. You can catch us on Twitter at @SlashGear, on our Facebook at slasgear.com/tags/io-2011. Let’s keep it rollin!

T-Mobile confirmed the news via Twitter as well as their blog. The 4G Mobile Hotspot device built by ZTE will retail for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year data plan service agreement. The device is compact and lightweight and comes with an SD card slot for up to 32GB of expandable memory. However, the device only supports up to 21Mbps.

If you live in one of the select cities—currently Las Vegas, New York, and Orlando—you can take advantage of 42Mbps speeds by getting the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0, a laptop stick modem built by ZTE and the first 42 Mbps capable 4G product for the carrier. This device is set to launch late Spring, with date and pricing not yet confirmed.

[via ZD Net]

The LC11 is available right now and will cost you $269.99 at full retail price or $149.99 with a 2-year contract. Verizon will also give you a $50 instant discount if you buy online bringing the price to $99.99 with free shipping. The hotspot can share the 4G speed with up to five other devices using WiFi.

Inside the little black device is a MDM9600 chipset and a 4G SIM card. It is VPN compatible and has autoconnect. WiFi support includes 802.11b/g/n and it has a USB port that is used for charging the internal battery. The device measures 2.32″ x 3.54″ x 0.45″ and weighs 2.7 ounces. It is good for up to 216 minutes of use and nine hours on standby.

AT&T and Verizon both will allow customers to sign up for month-to-month service directly from their devices with no contract or up-front fees. Although it was rumored that Verizon would charge an activation fee for iPads running on their network, the carrier cleared the air stating that they have no plans to do so.

Pricing plans for the iPad 2 on AT&T’s network starts at $14.99 per month for 250MB of data with a second option of $25 per month for 2GB of data. Overage charges will depend on payment methods—prepaid or postpaid. For the iPhone 4 hotspot option, AT&T will charge an additional $20 on top of the required $25 data plan. This will add an additional 2GB of data to the plan. Overage charges for this option are billed at $10 per GB.

Below is nice little comparison chart between Verizon and AT&T pricing plans.

[via All Things Digital]

[via Electronista]

Skype Access is made possible through partnerships between Skype and Wi-Fi hotspot providers throughout the world. Skype’s newest partner has expanded their coverage to 500,000 hotspots including 500 airports and 30,000 hotels.

Here’s a list of current Skype Access partners:

• BT Openzone – The largest Wi-Fi hotspot provider in the UK.
• Fon – This is billed as the “world’s largest Wi-Fi network.”
• M3 Connect – Major German Wi-Fi provider.
• Row 44 – An in-flight broadband platform that serves many international flights.
• Skyrove – A hotspot provider in South Africa.
• Spectrum Interactive – A Wi-Fi provider in the UK with a focus on the travel and media sector.
• Tomizone – A Wi-Fi provider in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
• Vex – A South African Wi-Fi provider.

Skype is offering the service for free to users in Spain until February 18. To use the service, make sure you have the latest version of Skype setup on your computer.

[Via Yahoo News]

Both have LCD screens on them to provide a look at battery life, network strength, and the device connected. They have audible alerts for status of the device and more. The difference between the two devices is that the 754S supports 4G LTE networks and the 753s is a 3G only device.

The 753S is good for up to 42Mbps download and 5.76Mbps upload on DC-HSPA+ networks. The 754S is good for up to 100Mbps download and up to 50Mbps upload on LTE networks and will operate on 3G networks as well. Pricing and availability are unannounced.

An spokesman for the carrier would not give any details, but he did say that “we’re working with Apple,” to make it happen. AT&T is also giving away free microcells to increase reception. On Feb. 13, their data cap for tethering customers will expand to 4 GB. Will that be enough to stop iPhone-lovers from fleeing to Big Red?

It doesn’t seem likely. The subscriber-only iPhone pre-orders set a new first day sale’s record for the world’s largest carrier. The next round of orders- on February 9- won’t be kind to AT&T’s bottom line.

[Via AppleInsider]

First up is replacing its existing 450 Cloud hotspots and starting the process of automatically registering O2 subscribers to the O2 WiFi service; that should be done by the end of 2011. Everyone else (or impatient O2 users) will be able to register for access separately.

While the move is obviously going to cost O2 some money, it seems they have their own network’s needs in mind as well. According to their sums, only 20-percent of O2 subscribers with inclusive hotspot access and a WiFi-enabled device actually make use of it; if the carrier can offload some of them onto WiFi from the 3G network, that should hopefully open up a little headroom and reduce overall load.

Press Release:

O2 redefines Wi-Fi landscape with launch of O2 Wifi

O2 outlines plans to offer seamless, fast and free internet for all, in venues across the country

O2 today announces its plans to deploy a market-changing public Wi-Fi platform in the UK, with the launch of O2 Wifi. O2’s premium hotspots will be managed through partnerships with key venue owners and will be open for all customers to access for free, no matter which mobile or broadband provider they are with.

O2 is aiming to create a scaled Wi-Fi platform that will be at least double the number of premium hotspots currently offered by BT Openzone and The Cloud combined by 2013. It will begin rollout immediately by replacing its existing 450 Cloud hotspots in its retail and office estate. It will continue to extend the reach and scale of O2 Wifi through partnerships with strategic venues, to include shops, restaurants, retail outlets and outdoor and indoor locations across the UK.

The O2 Wifi service will address the many shortcomings of current public Wi-Fi offerings by being genuinely free to customers, simple, fast and secure. O2’s mobile expertise and insight, allied with an enhanced quality of network connectivity and strong venue partnerships will now deliver a significantly enhanced user experience. O2 Wifi will introduce a new level of customer engagement, driving increased value for both the Wi-Fi hosting venue and the user by bringing together O2 Wifi with the capabilities of O2 Media and O2 Money to offer the potential to deliver relevant timely content that customers want in a format that suits them.

Access to the hotspots will be through a simple sign-up process and will be free to both O2 and non-O2 mobile customers, providing seamless connectivity to a high quality network. The sign up process will be auto provisioned for all O2 customers with Wi-Fi devices by the end of the year. All hotspots will be premium public hotspots, as opposed to using residential connections with limited bandwidth.

O2 has long been a market-leader in provision of public Wi-Fi services across mobile devices, introducing unlimited Wi-Fi access included in iPhone tariffs over three years ago. Through O2’s partnerships with BT Openzone and The Cloud, adoption and growth of Wi-Fi services has been significant with customers seeing real usage benefits.

O2’s New Business Development Director Tim Sefton said: “Building networks is a core capability. We have pioneered the explosion of mobile data over the last three years and know better than anyone where people are accessing data. O2 Wifi hotspots will bring high quality public Wi-fi access to the majority of mobile users.

“Only 20% of people who have access to free public Wi-Fi on O2 tariffs actively use it despite the majority of devices being Wi-Fi enabled. We know that Wi-Fi as a technology has great potential and can be a very fast service, however customers are discouraged by barriers which include complexity in activation, uncertainty of where Wi-Fi is free and the variable quality of the current experience.

“O2 is integrating new layers of technology into the existing network to enable a seamless and sustained customer experience. We are technology-agnostic and driven entirely by our customers’ needs. We believe that services should be delivered in the best possible way, across multiple networks, supported by different technologies.”

In addition, O2 is increasing investment in its mobile network by 25% in 2011. These investments will allow O2 to offer customers access to a suite of layered technologies, including 2G, EDGE, 3G, 4G, HSPA+ and Wi-Fi, seamlessly, simply and at speed. These technologies will enable customers to access a new range of ‘smarter’ services and experiences.

The hotspot feature will allow the user to use the device as a 3G wireless hotspot for up to five devices.  The Verizon specific ability for the phone has it’s own 2GB monthly plan for the hotspotting separate from the phone’s own data plan.  The plan covers all devices connected to the iPhone using it as a 3G connection. Being a premium service you can bet it will cost you if you go over the limit.  Each additional gigabyte over the allotted amount will cost you $20 per gigabyte. Yup,  be careful.

The hotspot’s monthly data pool plan is the same as the rest of Verizon’s phone arsenal.  Currently, AT&T’s iPhone does not have the ability to be a hotspot for any of it’s phones.  Sprint and Verizon do have a limited number of phones that can.  There are reports that the newest version of iOS 4.3 may allow it, and it will be up to the carrier’s discretion whether or not to activate it.

[Via Macworld]

The device features a 10x35mm eInk display that will show status indicators for battery, signal and the number of connected devices. The MiFi also boasts a a GPS chip for location-based services.

The device automatically switches between 3G and 4G and will push out a connection to up to 5 users. 4G data speeds on Sprint’s WiMax network will average 3-6 Mbps with a peak around 10 Mbps.

The expected release date for the MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot for Sprint is this February and pricing has yet to be determined.

The gadget is called the tizi and it is black with a very small and compact design. The tizi has a preconfigured wireless network and to get TV on the iPhone or iPad the user only needs to select that preconfigured network on their device. The tizi is good for up to three and a half hours per charge and charges via a USB port.

It can be charged using the iPhone or iPad AC wall adapter and has a LED indicator light to show the battery level. The tizi supports iOS4 and will require that OS on the iPhone 3GS or 4, iPod touch, and the iPad will work with the hotspot using iOS 3.2. The tizi is available right now online and sells for €149.95. the required app is on the App Store right now at no charge.

It’s hard to innovate in the mobile hotspot market right now; that is, unless you want to step up to 4G networking like Sprint’s OverDrive, and in the absence of their yet-to-launch LTE network Verizon are sticking with EVDO Rev.A for domestic use. However, unlike the MiFi 2200, the FiveSpot also packs an HSPA modem for use on GSM/WCDMA networks; that means travelers to Europe and other destinations can still get a data connection, though of course roaming data rates are significantly higher than Verizon’s domestic rates.

Up to five WiFi clients can be connected to the FiveSpot at any one time. The hardware itself is minimally designed and, like a smoothed-off pebble, drops neatly into a pocket or bag. There’s no status display, but you do get four indicators for signal, battery, 3G and WiFi. Turn it on, and it worked with our test Mac out of the box, getting us online and surfing in seconds.

We’ll be running tests on battery life and general performance over the next few days, in time for the full SlashGear review, so until then enjoy the unboxing gallery.

We said the iSpot’s data package was a bargain, and we weren’t kidding: $25 per month is significantly lower than you’d normally pay for either 3G or 4G mobile data. Clear are also selling the iSpot contract-free, which means once you’ve dropped $99.99 on the hotspot itself there needn’t be any ongoing service fees if you decide not to use it.

As you might expect, there’s a handful of compromises involved. First off is the Apple device limitation – more on which later – but perhaps equally important is the absence of 3G network support. If you live in an area with 4G coverage the iSpot is great; if you’re not in one of those (currently) limited areas then there’s no falling back onto the 3G network, you simply don’t get any data service whatsoever. That makes it particularly important to check Clear’s coverage maps, though even then there will be dead patches to content with where signal strength varies.

The simplicity of the connectivity adds up to a straightforward chunk of hardware. The iSpot is fatter than a 3G-only MiFi 2200, with two front-panel LEDs for status and a power button on the side. There’s no microSD card reader as we’ve seen on some recent MiFi-style devices, for turning the hotspot into a mobile NAS of sorts, and nor is there a display: anything more complex than WiFi and WiMAX status are relegated to the browser-based control panel.

Inside the iSpot there’s a relatively huge 2,700mAh battery that Clear reckon is good for the usual quoted 4hrs of hotspot service. It charges using a miniUSB AC adapter, and of course since you can access the battery compartment you could feasibly pick up a second pack. Unlike some mobile hotspots you can’t plug the iSpot in via USB and use it as a tethered modem.

Setup is straightforward, especially if you’re content with the preset SSID and WPA settings. The password is printed on the label on the bottom of the iSpot, but can be changed via the browser interface. As with most routers you can also change WiFi channel (or leave it on automatic) and disable password protection altogether; interestingly, it’s also possible to change the power settings for the WiFi radio. That means you can notch it down in order to maximise battery life, if you know your WiFi devices aren’t going to be too far away.

In terms of speed, we tested the iSpot in Lewisville, TX, and saw average download speeds of 4.14Mbps. That’s impressive stuff, though upload rates were a different story; they averaged just 0.28Mbps. For most users, though, that will fit in with their mobile ambitions: only those wanting to upload large amounts of data (which admittedly is unlikely if you’re using an iPad, iPod touch or iPhone) will be frustrated.

Battery life, meanwhile, generally exceeded Clear’s estimates, with our unit managing around 4.25hrs with WiFi taken down to its shortest range setting (still sufficient for a regular room or office, so you can have the iSpot next to the window and still be browsing from the couch). Clear’s use of a miniUSB port for recharging is annoying, given most mobile devices have settled on microUSB, but of course the Apple gadgets it’s intended to play with use their own, proprietary connector.

A cheap source of high-speed mobile connectivity is appealing to more than just iPad, iPod touch and iPhone owners, however, and so it’s unsurprising that hacking the iSpot for broader access is a hot topic. Clear has used MAC filtering to identify what device is trying to connect, blocking anything else. To work around that, you’ll need to figure out how to spoof your notebook/tablet/smartphone’s MAC address; instructions for that are broadly available online, though Clear are unlikely to smile upon anyone caught doing that.

If you’re not comfortable hacking your device, the obvious alternative is Clear’s own Spot 4G – exactly the same unit as the iSpot but without the Apple limitation and in a black casing. Unfortunately, while the Spot 4G is priced at $99.99 too, service plans start from $40 per month and require a contract; in contrast, the iSpot’s data plan is $25 per month and demands no contract.

That makes it a definite bargain, and if you decided not to opt for a 3G iPad or prefer faster connectivity than AT&T’s 3G on your iPhone then the allure of Clear’s WiMAX can’t be denied. With no slower connection to fall back on, the Clear iSpot has limited appeal until the carrier broadens their coverage, but if you’re an occasional mobile data user living in a 4G area and carrying a bag full of Apple mobile hardware then the iSpot is hard to argue with.

Huawei have also listened to user complaints about their first-gen version, and reworked the browser-based dashboard status page so that it can be accessed on Windows, Mac and Linux machines.  Previously only Windows-based computers could log in, which some found made setting up wireless security tricky.

There’s also a one-button startup, the ability to simultaneously charge the E585 while using it to share a connection, and a microSD card slot which we’re hoping can be accessed by all WiFi clients this time around.  No word on battery life – we’re guessing 3-4 hours – but the Huawei E585 will be available on Three next month, priced at £49.99 ($73) on pre-pay.

[via Recombu]

Press Release:

New ‘one-touch’ MiFi from Three

Three is pleased to announce the new ‘one-touch’ MiFi (Huawei E585) which has been developed in line with customer feedback following the launch of Mobile Wi Fi in 2009. The MiFi creates a personal Wi-Fi hot spot for up to five devices, such as iPads, laptops or handheld games consoles, giving you the flexibility of getting more than one device online when on the go.

The new model boasts a one button connection , an improved display and an online dashboard that works with any browser – features not available in the original model. The new look screen displays information like the amount of data used, speed of the current connection and length of browsing time.

“Connect devices need a strong 3G connection like ours, especially when you’re on the move. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our mobile internet offering. Following the launch of our first MiFi device, our customers asked for changes to made. We worked with Huawei to incorporate features like ‘one button to connect’, an improved screen and a great browser dashboard that works across Windows, Mac and Linux devices. We now have a device that customers will enjoy even more. ” said Mark Brewer, Head of Broadband Devices

Key features:

One button start-up
Advanced OLED screen
Browser based dashboard
Charge whilst in use
Available early July 2010 and priced at £ 49.99 on PAYG.