Way back in January, Verizon and Samsung teamed up to announce a new 4G mobile hotspot. There was no pricing or launch info given at the time, but today Big Red finally loosened its lips and gave us some solid information. The Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is up for pre-order today and will be available this Thursday, March 31st, for $99.99 with a two-year contract and $50 mail-in rebate. If you'd prefer to go the contract-free route, you'll be paying $269.99 for the privilege. Once you've got the Mobile Hotspot in hand, you'll have the option of two different data plans: 5GB for $50/month or 10GB for $80/month. The full press release is waiting for you down below.
The $100 price tag seems like a reasonable price for the ability to tether up to five devices to Verizon's growing LTE network, although I'm sure that some users would like to see a couple more plan options available. With the rising popularity of using phones as mobile hotspots, you've got to wonder how popular these dedicated devices will be going forward, even if this particular hotspot does feature LTE connectivity. As long as you've got a charger or extra battery nearby, carrying a phone that's capable of becoming a mobile hotspot seems like the way to go rather than lugging around both a phone and a mobile hotspot. What do you all think? Would you rather carry just a phone or a handset along with a hotspot?
UPDATE: For those of you interested in picking up Samsung's 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot, the device is live on Verizon's site right now. Anyone planning to hit the "Add to Cart" button?
Verizon Wireless And Samsung Deliver The 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
Running on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network, the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is Available Today
03/29/2011
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is available for order today in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a 4G Mobile Broadband plan. The 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot will be available in stores on March 31.
Key features:
Share 4G LTE internet connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices at the same time
4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage areas
Backward compatible with the Verizon Wireless 3G network
Dimensions: 2.32”(H) x 3.54”(W) x 0.45”(D)
Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot customers can take advantage of Verizon’s 4G LTE network by subscribing to a 4G LTE mobile broadband data package starting at $50 monthly access for 5GB. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Data usage can be tracked by logging on to My Verizon online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G networks. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years. For more information about the LTE Innovation Center and Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.
For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
Via VZBuzz
