It was almost a year ago that we first heard about FreedomPop, a startup built on the manifesto that every American (yes, you) should have access to free wireless broadband. Ten months later, the pay-as-you-go service is launching in beta, with "free" meaning 500MB of data per month. For the time being, the touted 4G service will come courtesy of Clearwire's WiMAX network, but FreedomPop says it will switch to Sprint's LTE spectrum sometime in early 2013. In the meantime, though, you can expect speeds anywhere between 4 and 10 Mbps down, and 1 to 2 Mbps up.
To take advantage of the service, you'll need to either buy or rent some compatible hardware. Your options include the "Freedom Spot" hotspot capable of serving eight devices simultaneously, or the "Freedom Stick," a USB dongle. Both of these are free, but require that you put down a refundable deposit ($ 89 for the hotspot and $ 49 for the stick). As we previously reported, too, the company will be selling $ 99 iPhone and iPod cases that double as hotspots, though these won't actually be available for another four to six weeks. The iPhone version, in particular, does triple-duty as a charging case.
If you do venture past that 500MB data cap you'll pay $ 10 for every subsequent gigabyte. Packaged deals will also be available. As we had heard, though, FreedomPop is hoping to recoup the costs of that free data by selling premium services, with three to start and more coming later. At launch, these add-ons will include device protection (24/7 customer serv ice and replacement service within 48 hours) and notification alerts if you're about to hit the data cap. You can also pay for speedier 4G, though the company's claim of "up to 50 percent faster" performance is a vague one, given that the range of possible speeds is so broad to begin with.
There's one last piece about how FreedomPop works, and it might help if we drew a comparison to Dropbox, or Zynga, even. As you would in Farmville, you can earn extra Farmville cash free data by following through on certain tasks. Watch a 20-second ad, for instance, and you win three megs of data. Sign up for a Netflix trial and you get 1.2GB added to your coffer. And, similar to Dropbox, if you recommend a friend, you get 10MB for every month that pal stays on with the service. Finally, you can share data with a friend, but it really does have to be a friend: that person's email address has to be in your contact list. FreedomPop launches in beta
FreedomPop's high speed wireless Internet service wi ll run over Clearwire's 4G network, capable of delivering high speed data access to areas where 130 million Americans live. FreedomPop now is accepting Beta orders on a first-come, first-serve basis at http://www.freedompop.com.
"Disruptive market entrants like FreedomPop drive growth, introduce new ideas, and help expand consumers' access to 4G products and services," said Dan Stroberg, Clearwire's senior vice president of wholesale. "Clearwire is uniquely positioned to enable these types of providers by offering a large 4G network footprint, deep spectrum resources, and years of experience operating in the wireless broadband industry."
FreedomPop will initially offer its free, high speed Internet service through two device options, the Freedom Spot – Photon, powering up to eight devices, and the Freedom Stick - Bolt, enabling plug-and- play data connectivity for laptops and PCs. It will also begin shipping its highly publicized iPhone and iP od Freedom Sleeves within the next four to six weeks.
"Today marks the first step in bringing fast and free wireless Internet service to the U.S.," said Stephen Stokols, chief executive officer of FreedomPop. "In a mobile data marketplace dominated by expensive family plans and binding annual contracts, FreedomPop is delivering a compelling and flexible alternative by offering consumers the ability to get connected on their terms, with unprecedented access and value."
In addition to receiving 500MB of data each month at no additional charge, which can power up to 14 hours of streaming music, 1,200 Facebook® posts1, or 23,000 emails, FreedomPop users have the ability to earn up to 1GB of data each month by adding friends to their network, or earn unlimited data each month by engaging in partner promotions. The company also offers heavier data users a variety of cost-effective plans, currently priced 20 to 40 percent below the rates of many major carriers.
FREEDOMPOP LAUNCHES FREE INTERNET FOR ALL
Company Launches Public Beta over Clearwire's Nationwide 4G Network
LOS ANGELES – Oct. 1, 2012 – FreedomPop, the disruptive free wireless Internet company, today announced the launch of its much anticipated public Beta service. The FreedomPop plan is simple: a guaranteed minimum of 500MB of 4G wireless Internet service every month, anywhere Clearwire's 4G coverage is available. No long-term contracts, no ads, no gimmicks.
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