Sprint announces three tri-band LTE hot spots (hands-on)
Sprint's just unveiled a trio of tri-band 4G LTE hot spots that connect to three separate versions of the carrier's LTE network.
LAS VEGAS -- Sprint just announced a trio of tri-band LTE mobile hot spots today at CTIA 2013. The devices are the Netgear Zing, the Netgear 341U, and the Novatel Wireless MiFi 500LTE.
The most striking product is the Netgear Zing, which not only connects to Sprint's 3G and 4G networks to supply up to 10 users simultaneously, it also features a large LCD touch screen. In fact Sprint claims it's the first hot spot it has offered with a touch-controlled display. Another added bonus to the Zing is it's capable of roaming globally on GSM networks.
Next up is the Netgear 341U USB modem, which uses a more traditional design. It plugs into the USB ports of laptops to provide 3G and 4G Internet access.
Lastly, the Novatel Wireless MiFi 500LTE lacks a screen like the Zing but does offer a Web interface for viewing stats such as battery life and connected devices.
All three products will notably link to Sprint's new tri-band LTE network (800MHz, 1.9GHz, 2.5GHz) for the most complete 4G coverage the carrier has yet offered. Sprint hasn't confirmed prices for these networking devices yet but expects to sell the gadgets by summer 2013.