FreedomPop, the startup backed by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, started taking orders for a case for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S that is WiMAX enabled and connects to Clearwire's (NASDAQ:CLWR) network. The case, which FreedomPop calls an iPhone Sleeve, will cost $99 up front, though it appears that customers can return a Sleeve in good condition at any time for a refund.
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Click here for a video on FreedomPop's iPhone Sleeve. |
However, FreedomPop is making a change to its pricing plan for the device; instead of the 1 GB of free data the company originally spoke of earlier this spring, users will get a guaranteed 500 MB free. The company had never fully settled on 1 GB of free data per month, but that was a target it had set out. FreedomPop is working on a mechanism to give users more free data, according to GigaOM.
Indeed, the company said the service will start later this summer in a beta test, indicating that the company is still sorting through how its business will operate. The case also allows up to eight other devices to connect to it and doubles as a battery charger that FreedomPop claims can extend battery life up to six hours.
FreedomPop has a wholesale deal with Clearwire for network access, and it intends to announce another carrier partner as well. Clearwire's WiMAX network covers 72 markets and around 130 million POPs. In late March FreedomPop said it intends to allow its customers to share wireless data between each other and will reward customers with extra data if they refer new users to the service.
For more:
- see this release
- see this GigaOM article
- see this TechCrunch article
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