FreedomPop Launches “Free” Global Data Hotspot And SIM - and Competition?

[kctopitz]

Interesting to see FreedomPop moving into the international data market. As a reader of a US deals forum, I'll state that their free service offerings in the US come with very mixed reviews, with people reporting that their credit cards have shown random charges for supposedly free service (you have to have a credit card on file with them). This may just be a matter of people not reading the fine print, unchecking the right boxes, etc., but I think a "proceed with caution" warning should still apply. Perhaps pay for the SIM with a prepaid credit card and keep that on file with them.

Given that, I'd be much more inclined to try one of Three UK's SIM cards, but since I'm never in the UK, I have a feeling that sooner or later my service would be cut off as per the aforementioned terms and conditions.

Note: Doing some research on the FreedomPop service, here's a page which shows the list of countries being added "soon" (this year?). The list includes:

Bangladesh
Brazil
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Malaysia
Mexico
Philippines
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
Thailand
Vietnam

These will be in addition to their currently supported countries which are basically the US and most of Europe (missing some of the eastern European and Baltic states).

[peterdoo]

Starting soon in Spain:
http://es.freedompop.com

Looks like the underlying network will be Yoigo (data only) without the possibility to use the Movistar national roaming.

[gaztelugatxe]

Originally Posted by peterdoo

Starting soon in Spain:
http://es.freedompop.com

Looks like the underlying network will be Yoigo (data only) without the possibility to use the Movistar national roaming.

Hello Peterdoo,

I've just read it today in several places and they could use Orange coverage (not confirmed yet)

The information available is very limited but it looks like they will offer for ONE single payment of five (5) euros: every month 300 Mb internet + 300 min + 300 sms. This is the basic plan and add-ons could be ordered separately.

Whatsup messages will also be included free of charge and they will not count for the 300 Mb/month limit (probably only plain text)

The basic plan alllowance could also be used in roaming in several countries.

The FreedomPop app must be used in order to get the 300 Mb internet, the 300 min (VoIP) and the sms.

Regards

[kctopitz]

A quote from a US user of the FreedomPop global hotspot:

"Speedtest.net identifies the location of the sim as being in London. Looks like they are running the sim off of the Three UK cell network."

Looks like FreedomPop is piggybacking on Three's data plan.

[GadgetKen]

It's definitely been confirmed on other websites that the FreedomPop global sim is using Three UK. Despite being in a LTE hotspot (basically an unlocked version of an AT&T/Novatel Mifi Liberate) the signal is reported as only 3g. It can function in 3g on either T-Mo or AT&T in the US but is reported as having high ping rates of around 200-300 ms due to running off UK servers.
Tempting because it would give me access to data networks other than my current access to Sprint (FreeedomPop CDMA or Karma) or Verizon (through wireless tether). But I'm hesitant to sign up for the freedompop global offer due to:
-Lack of coverage other than US and Western Europe. I'd like to also see Canada, Bermuda and Non-US Caribbean coverage.
-Reported long ping times on internet connections in the US.
-Problems with availability of sim cards. They recently restocked but were sold out again within hours. I have a decommisioned hotspot similar to what they have in stock, so wouldn't want to pay for a second one.
-Slick business practices by FreedomPop. When signing up for FreedomPop Sprint CDMA coverage, I had to deselect the 30 day free trial of paid service, additional unwanted service add-ons that would be auto-billed quarterly, and automatic top-ups(they now charge a US$5 fee for that where I paid nothing at the time). Then I added FreedomFriends (for 50 mb/month per added friend up to a max of 500 mb extra a month) and I also shift unused data between my three FreedomPop CDMA devices to boost my usable data allotment. While I understand FreedomPop has to make money to stay in business, you have to jump through hoops to get the optional truly free service from them.
-Varying degrees of customer service on the odd occasion I've needed it. Sometimes good and sometimes not.
-No voice or SMS access on FreedomPop Global sim cards other than through VOIP or SIP based services.

[kctopitz]

Originally Posted by GadgetKen

... the signal is reported as only 3g. It can function in 3g on either T-Mo or AT&T in the US but is reported as having high ping rates of around 200-300 ms due to running off UK servers.

I agree it has some catches, but getting 600 or 700 MB of data per month (by using the Freedom Friends program) for free (assuming you know how to disable their "catches") is still a good deal. 300ms pings aren't that bad, nor are the reported download speeds (4.0 to 5.0 Mbps down, 1.0 to 2.5 Mbps up). Plus the fact that said data is usable in the US and Europe.

Really, as long as you're someone who can read instructions and take precautions (i.e. use a virtual credit card with a low limit), this is a no-brainer if (when) it's available.

[GadgetKen]

Might sign up for FreedomPop Global once they have coverage in the areas I need it in. But no data coverage in Canada, non-US Caribbean and Bermuda make it of limited use to me. For US, I have unlimited Verizon (in theory; I can't use it that heavily or it would likely be throttled or cut off), plus ~3 gb free a month on FreedomPop CDMA Sprint, and a lot of non-expiring data on Karma CDMA Sprint with the ability to earn more free.

Will be in Bermuda for a couple of weeks starting at the end of May, and will be using limited free hotel wifi, Kindle free 3g and InMarSat voice for my data and voice needs. Used to have a Digicel Bermuda sim but they increased the minimum monthly refill and started charging daily license fees on pay-as-you-go plans (other than the flat rate prepaid plan that still charges for international calls to US and elsewhere). Also used to have Telna but they tripled Bermuda rates. Might pick up a Piranha sim card as a backup.

[kctopitz]

Originally Posted by GadgetKen

Might pick up a Piranha sim card as a backup.

I can recommend Piranha if you travel internationally. While they won't match a local prepaid SIM, their rates are generally reasonable in pretty much every country, i.e. $.14/MB in Bermuda, which would allow you to check email and news without breaking the bank. That plus a 420-day expiry make it a good backup SIM if nothing else.

Since Piranha transactions are in British Pounds, now is a good time to buy, as the Pound hasn't been so weak against the dollar in over 10 years.

[andy]

I've asked them more than once about selling the SIM on its own, as I already have some mifi routers, and I don't think the spec of theirs is ideal for Europe. They keep replying telling me the frequency bands in the spec, and I keep replying also telling them the frequency bands, i.e. no 4g and no 900 MHz 3g.

[kctopitz]

Originally Posted by andy

I've asked them more than once about selling the SIM on its own, as I already have some mifi routers, and I don't think the spec of theirs is ideal for Europe. They keep replying telling me the frequency bands in the spec, and I keep replying also telling them the frequency bands, i.e. no 4g and no 900 MHz 3g.

Andy, if you're in the UK, wouldn't it make more sense to use one of Three UK's SIMs which is basically the same thing (free 200MB data usable in Europe and the US)?

If you really want a US FreedomPop SIM, they went on sale last week for $.99 with free shipping, but sold out in a few hours. I'm guessing they're using a first run as a beta test of sorts, and that more SIMs will be available soon.