FreedomPop’s $99 sleeve brings free 4G WiMAX service to the iPod touch

FreedomPop is now selling a $99 iPod touch 4G Sleeve. All you have to do is attach the kind-of-chunky sleeve to a 4th-gen iPod touch, and you can use your mobile device anywhere FreedomPop’s 4G WiMAX network is available. No WiFi-hotspot required.

Users get up to 500MB of service for free each month. If you need more data than that, you’ll have to pay.

FreedomPop charges 2 cents per megaybte for data overages. Or you can get a 2GB/month plan for $18 or a 4GB plan for $29. FreedomPop also offers users 500MB of extra data for free when they refer friends.

All plans let you access the internet on the go or use an iPod touch as a mobile hotspot, allowing you to share your internet connection with up to 8 devices.

In other words, you can use Skype or another VoIP app to use an iPod touch as a phone — although you’ll want to get a headset if you don’t want to treat all your calls as speakerphone conversations. While the iPod touch has a built-in speaker and mic, they’re not designed for phone use.

The FreedomPop iPod Touch 4G Sleeve has been in the works for a while… which probably explains why it’s designed for last year’s iPod touch model, not the new 5th-generation model. Most wireless carriers are also focusing on LTE rather than WiMAX for future build-outs, so if WiMAX isn’t yet available in your area, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for it to arrive.

Still, if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive way to turn your iPod touch into an always-connected mobile device and/or a mobile hotspot, this $99 accessory could do the trick.

Apple sells refurbished 4th-gen iPod touch models for as little as $149.

via Engadget and PR Newswire

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