Clearwire has launched its first dual-mode 4G dongle for Mac laptops and two new personal hot spots as it continues to expand the device lineup for its mobile WiMAX network.
Clearwire already offers two 4G-only USB modems for Mac users, but the 3G/4G dongle introduced today will allow Mac users to access the Internet while they’re outside of a 4G coverage area.
The company is still in the process of deploying its mobile WiMAX network, which is expected to cover 120 million people by the end of this year. The service has several major launches planned for the months ahead, including New York City, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Pittsburgh.
The new CLEAR 4G+ dual-mode modem is also compatible with computers running Windows and costs $114.99, or can be leased monthly for $5.99. Clearwire says the device is immediately available online and in stores in Atlanta, Dallas, Hawaii, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading and York, Penn. The company plans to make the device available in all of its 4G markets on July 1.
Clearwire’s two new personal Wi-Fi hot spots include a 4G-only device that supports up to eight Wi-Fi devices at a time and a dual-mode 3G/4G device that supports up to five Wi-Fi devices at a time.
The single-mode Clear Spot 4G costs $99.99 or $4.99 per month on a lease and will be available nationwide some time in July. The dual-mode Clear Spot 4G+ is available for $224.99 or $5.99 per month on a lease and will also be available nationwide at an unspecified date in July.
Both of Clearwire’s new dual-mode devices were manufactured by Sierra Wireless. The operator’s new single-mode hot spot was made by InfoMark.
Clearwire took the new product launch as an opportunity to take a thinly veiled jab at AT&T’s new data caps, saying in its press release that Clearwire customers could use its 4G service “without the worries or hassles of tiered or capped usage plans.”
“In today’s on-the-go world, everyone deserves fast speeds and the usage they want at a fair price – without constantly checking their usage or worrying about their end of month bill,” said Dow Draper, vice president of product development for Clearwire, in a statement. “These new devices offer today’s mobile user, and the millions of Wi-Fi products in use across the country, even greater access to CLEAR’s fast and affordable 4G service.”
