Sprint Announces 3G/4G ‘Hot-Spot’ Routers

Your days of searching for Wireless ‘hot-spots’ are over

Sprint has released two new devices for the ever-growing 3G and 4G networks. The Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S and the Cradlepoint MBR-1000 are Mobile Broadband Routers, for both WiMAX and EVDO Rev.A connectivity. These devices are capable of changing both 3G and 4G signals into the standard WiFi format although they both rely on one of the carriers internal or external modems. This will allow all WiFi enabled devices such as Laptops, iPhones, iPod touch and many more to connect.

With more and more 3G and now 4G networks being rolled out all over the world, there is a lot of connectivity available although many products are still not capable of receiving this signal. According to a Sprint press release on August 5, 2009 “The search for the elusive Wi-Fi hotspot is a thing of the past for Sprint mobile broadband customers. Instead of hunting for a coffee shop or other fixed hotspot, Sprint’s new Mobile Broadband Router products connect multiple Wi-Fi-enabled devices at 3G or 4G mobile broadband speeds where Sprint 3G and 4G networks are available.”

The larger 7 x 5.6 x 1.2 inch Cradlepoint MBR-1000 is capable of allowing 32 devices to connect making it a viable option for businesses. The Personal Hotspot PHS300S, at 4.7  x 2.8 x .8 inches is the smaller brother of the Cradlepoint and can only facilitate four connections although for personal use four connections would be enough even for the most gadget crazy among us.

Data Plans offered by Sprint range from $39.99 to $79.99 depending on the usual variables as well as access to 3G and 4G or just 4G.

Recent tests by LaptopMag on CLEAR’s recently released  WiMAX  connection in Las Vegas have found that download speeds were on average 4.36Mbps although upload was only 571Kbps. The speeds were sufficiently fast for personal use although as you would only be running on one 3G/4G connection, things are going to slow right down if a couple people are YouTubing.

Strangely enough, the Sprint 4 G network is called CLEAR in Vegas and Wimax is called XOHM in Baltimore. With the many confusing products on the market, plastered with lists of letter and numbers for names I would have thought that simplicity would be imperative to good marketing. But it’s their loss.

The smaller Personal Hotspot PHS300S costs $149.99 and the Cradlepoint MBR-1000 is $249.99. Both of which are available through the Sprint website.