FreedomPop on Wednesday announced plans to sell discounted LTE tablets that come with a free data plus connectivity capable of offering tablet buyers phone features. In addition to browsing the web with their tablets, FreedomPop tablet buyers will also be able to send and receive text messages and make voice calls for free.
“The line between smartphones and tablets continues to blur,” FreedomPop Co-Founder and COO Steven Sesar said. “As a result, people want to use the device they’re most comfortable with, in a way that is most useful to them. We felt it was important to offer an expanded FreedomPop tablet experience by including telephony, and not just to enable calls but also for using apps like WhatsApp or Uber that require a device phone number to integrate seamlessly.”
“Whether it’s the integration of the ‘internet of things’ or increasing one’s productivity on the road, people are just beginning to tap into the potential of what tablets can do. With this platform becoming increasingly important to customers, they shouldn’t be harnessed by phone carriers’ restrictions,” he added.
Initially, FreedomPop will sell two LTE tablets including the iPad mini (for $319) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (for $199), but any user who already owns an LTE tablet will be able to sign up for the company’s new tablet plans, which will include 500MB of LTE data, 200 voice minutes and 500 text messages.
The full press release follows below.
FREEDOMPOP LAUNCHES TABLETS WITH PHONE CAPABILITY AND FREE LTE DATA, VOICE AND TEXT
FreedomPop now selling iPad mini and Samsung Tab 3 with expanded phone capability and free data, text and voice
LOS ANGELES, CA – July 30, 2014 – FreedomPop – the free mobile service company offering free voice, text and data – today announced that it is now offering discounted LTE tablets with free data plus expanding tablet functionality to include phone capabilities: a unique phone number, voice and texting. Specifically, users will be able to associate a unique phone number with any FreedomPop tablet and make free calls and texts. This functionality does not currently exist for tablets offered by large carriers, partially because of the potential to cannibalize high margin phone plans.
“The line between smartphones and tablets continues to blur,” said Steven Sesar, FreedomPop Co-Founder and COO. “As a result, people want to use the device they’re most comfortable with, in a way that is most useful to them. We felt it was important to offer an expanded FreedomPop tablet experience by including telephony, and not just to enable calls but also for using apps like WhatsApp or Uber that require a device phone number to integrate seamlessly.”
Sesar added, “Whether it’s the integration of the ‘internet of things’ or increasing one’s productivity on the road, people are just beginning to tap into the potential of what tablets can do. With this platform becoming increasingly important to customers, they shouldn’t be harnessed by phone carriers’ restrictions.”
At issue for many has been the cost of adding data to a second device like a tablet. Less than 70 percent of new tablets are purchased with LTE. With FreedomPop’s new tablet and data options, consumers now have the luxury of free data plans for both phones and tablets.
In addition to the popular iPad mini and Samsung Tab 3 tablets, users with existing LTE tablets can also move their existing tablets to FreedomPop and get the same 500 MBs of LTE data, 200 voice minutes and 500 texts absolutely free. Users can bring their own iPad or Tab device or purchase one from FreedomPop. The iPad mini will sell for $319 and the Samsung Tab 3 for $199.
These popular LTE tablets join the growing list of mobile phones and devices available to FreedomPop users since its launch, which include the iPhone 5, several of the top-selling Android smartphones and portable Wi-Fi hotspots. To order a smartphone or tablet from FreedomPop and to sign up for service now, go to FreedomPop.com.
About FreedomPop
FreedomPop provides disruptive mobile services so that no one is left off the “connected grid.” Launched in 2012, FreedomPop is rewriting the rules of the telecoms industry and is backed by Mangrove Capital, DCM and Skype Founder Niklas Zennstom’s Atomico. The company offers consumers access to free high-speed Internet and mobile phone services nationwide.FreedomPop is on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/FreedomPop and Twitter http:twitter.com/freedompop4G.
Media Inquiries for FreedomPop:
Consort Partners PR
Email: freedompop@consortpartners.com
