USB mobile broadband sticks have been around for years, and while the Alcatel OneTouch Ride-Fi may just look like another USB stick, it’s actually got a unique feature that makes it stand out.
The Alcatel OneTouch Ride-Fi plugs into your car’s 12V power socket, like a cigarette lighter port, and then can connect up to eight devices to Sprint’s LTE network. The Ride-Fi measures 136.4 x 34 x 12mm and includes indicators for Wi-Fi and network signal strength, and it’s also got a USB 2.0 port for device charging.
Alcatel OneTouch also offers Android and iOS apps to manage your Ride-Fi’s settings, monitor data usage, and more.
The Ride-Fi is available from Sprint starting today for $0 down and 24 payments of $7 apiece. You can also get it for $0 with a two-year contract or $168 full retail.
While you can use most phones and tablets as mobile hotspots, the purpose of the Ride-Fi is to let you get several devices online without having to use up your phone’s battery. And since the Ride-Fi can plug into your vehicle’s 12V power socket, you don’t even need to worry about charging the stick before you take it on the road for use.
