FreedomPop said on Wednesday that it is now "disrupting" the $100 billion home broadband market by taking pre-orders for the FreedomPop Hub Burst home modem. This gadget will be "disruptive" because it will pipe in 100-percent free high-speed Internet access at speeds that are on par with most cable providers.
"Major broadband providers, including Time Warner Cable, AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, are pillaging consumers, charging in excess of $500 per year for home Internet," said Stephen Stokols, FreedomPop's CEO. "The Hub Burst puts us in position to offer a compelling alternative for the massive home market much quicker than we initially planned."
Back in October, the company said that it officially launched free internet for everyone. It guaranteed a minimum of 500 MB of 4G wireless Internet service every month anywhere Clearwire's 4G coverage is available. No long-term contracts, no ads, and no gimmicks, the company said. Later that month, the company shipped an iPod Touch 4G Sleeve that snaps onto a 4th-generation iPod Touch, turning it into a 4G-capable smartphone.
Now the upcoming Hub Burst device, costing a reasonable $89, brings free internet directly to a home or small office. The device itself is a modem / router combo, allowing ten devices to connect via Wi-Fi or Ethernet simultaneously. Users are guaranteed 1 GB of data every month, and additional means to earn even more unlimited free data.
In addition to the free service, FreedomPop also provides two plans for data hogs who need more than 1 GB a month. These include a $9.99 monthly subscription for 10 GB, and a pay-as-you-go option that charges $0.005 per megabyte, or $5 per 1 GB.
FreedomPop claims that consumers could pay up to 80-percent less than what they shell out to cable and DSL operators. After all, the median American household uses under 5.5 GB per month at home, yet spends over $50 for Internet service alone, Stokols said.
"FreedomPop will utilize the Clearwire WiMax network, ensuring that installation is as simple as plugging in the device with no time-consuming, complicated installations. Unlike traditional service providers, there are no contracts, no hidden fees and no installation issues," the company stated in a press release.
To pre-order the FreeDom Pop Hnub Burst, head here. The company will determine if coverage is in your area before taking a pre-order payment.