Clear discontinues Apple-centric 4G iSpot

By on Dec 31, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Hardware December 31, 2010

Wow, who would have seen this one coming? A mobile broadband router that only works in 71 markets with three specific devices — iPhones, iPads, and iPod touchs — was not a best-selling device? Shocking. According to a Clear representative, the company will be discontinuing its 4G-only, Apple iDevice-only, mobile router. As the forum post reads:

The only locations currently available to purchase an iSpot are at certain retail stores. These stores only have a limited supply and once sold out will not be ordering more. We do however have the iSpots in stock for devices still under warranty that need to be replaced.

The iSpot, which retailed for $99, did have a puny $25 per month operating charge, but the restrictions seemed to far outweigh the utility of the pebble-shaped device. Anyone out there actually own an iSpot?

[Via Engadget]

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24 Comments

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  • guest

    what a fail this was. at least make a mifi router!!!

    first??

    • Computron

      I got one over the christmas sale for $20 bucks, went to iSpotunristricted and made it into fully working wifi hotspot that is compatible with any device. So for, I could not be any happier with it. I love the iSpot.

    • Anonymous

      Its a good idea and Im sure it served it’s purpose… But it gets a lil confusing with the need for cracking the product for certain allowed devices to work.

      My aunt should have got a wifi ipad and one of these. WiMax is available everywhere she goes an her 3G iPad always has problems with internet settings…

  • Norm

    Another MAJOR iFail. Perhaps if Clear made a DROID only hotspot router then maybe they wouldn’t have iFailed so bad. There are a plethora of DROID tablets and PMPs just waiting for such a product. In fact, all mifi’s should just be DROID only as they are really all that people are buying anymore.

    • http://twitter.com/nickdube Nicholas Dubé

      you do know Droid is the name of Motorolla’s phone and NOT the name of Android.. there are NOT a “plethora of DROID tablets and PMPs,” And iFailed?? Really?? Jeez man, originality is important

      • Norm

        HTC DROID Incredible…. it’s not just Motorola you clown. I know this kind of stuff because i am the fucking DROID expert.

      • Norm

        Oh… and HTC DROID ERIS…HTC DROID Thunderboly 4G LTE…. come one. Test the DROID master.

      • Mgl323

        Who was the DROID Master before you?

      • Joebutler85

        You aren’t a Droid Master you are an iPhone Fanboy that posts sarcastically pretending to be a Droid Enthusiast.

      • Goofan (aka Apple Hater)

        You tell these fucking iSheep. Now, in all fairness, remember they don’t have the intellectual power WE Goofans (aka Apple Haters) have. So, take it easy on them because they may get hurt…

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GP2WYAHXS6CRUREISWBGPUSUGE Michael

      It’s people like you who give Android fans a bad name….

      to everyone else i apologize.

    • Goofan (aka Apple Hater)

      So freaking true! I started an Android mifi business here in Florida and have over 1 million customer already just in an area not more than 2 square miles. The power of Android.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GP2WYAHXS6CRUREISWBGPUSUGE Michael

    Reminds me of a childhood book i once read.

    Watch iSpot Fail.

  • lurch

    When I first read that headline, my dislexia kicked in, and I thought it said “4i gSpot”. If that was the case, they’d probably have sold more.

    • Goofan (aka Apple Hater)

      I almost fell off my chair with this comment. That was one of the funniest lines I have ever seen here, aside from my brother, Norm… :-)

  • Infobhan

    Considering how easy it was to unlock this device to work with any computer, it was a great deal at $25/mo without contract.

  • Pirategrad

    I have one I picked up for $20 and with unlimited 4g service for $25. Works great in my area and there are several cities nearby that we frequent where it works too. I also got it unlocked so it works with our MacBooks. I read a lot of people popooing in the comments but it’s not a bad deal if you can use it.

  • Anonymous

    I have one. Clear are *really* eager to get you to use these OUTSIDE. Weird. In Los Angeles (a recent 4g city), i get *no reception* indoors.

    I’ll give it a try in Las Vegas which is blanketed with 4g, but if it doesn’t work there, this is going to feeBay.

    • Wayne Dixon

      This is no surprise. I’m in the Chicago Suburbs and I get no reception indoors. As soon as I got out on my porch or deck I get a ton of coverage. I’m not sure if it’s the iSpot itself, or just horrible coverage. I discontinued my service because I refuse to pay for something that doesn’t work.

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCJLK3KgzyQ mfranke

      This is why LTE is going to outpace WiMax. LTE’s 700mhz spectrum has far better building penetration than WiMax’s 2.5ghz.

  • buzzz

    I’ve had one for 4 or so months and it works great. I keep it in my window at work, sharing it with 6 or so iPhone and iPad users.

  • Michael M – Minneapolis

    I just got one of these the other day – must have been the last person to order one online as when I went back to the website a couple hours later – it was pulled from the site – but they took they order and shipped it overnight.

    This is a good product for my mom – she is 80 – has an ipad and iphone – I dumped the two 30 dollar data plans for ATT and used this device for $25 – saving me $20 a month – ($15 + $25). Her ipad had slow data speed about 500kbps – the iSpot now gets her 1500-2000kbps – and it allows me to connect to it as well when I visit – great idea – sad to see it go.

  • Keiffus

    I bought one in August for $20 with the $25 service (one day only promo). I couldn’t at first get reception in my flat (Chicago), but it got really good reception at work (suburbs) and outdoors. Over time, reception and speeds improved dramatically. So much so, that I use it as a back up to when RCN starts to sputter. The only problem I saw was their inability to keep up with the new MAC addresses of the iPad and iPhone. Plus, Clear is not doing well overall. Their CEO and founder just left with 2 days notice and layed off a lot of people over the past few months. They are probably streamlining their services in order to compete with VZ’s new LTE roll out.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCJLK3KgzyQ mfranke

    The iSpot was child’s play to hack and remove the Mac address filtering.

    It was actually a pretty good deal once you unlocked it to play nice with any device. $25/mo for unlimited 4g? Sure.

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