Freedompop is generally on the CDMA networks like Verizon and Sprint. How can this work on GSM? GSM networks include major carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T. Did something change with Freedompop that I am missing?
Rumor has it that it is on the AT&T network. This definitely is not CDMA sprint or verizon. Also, it is HSPA+, not LTE 4G.... so this will be slow. But free is free, right? I'm giving it a try.
FreedomPop is an MVNO, they can be on ANY carrier and can switch carriers under the hood with Impact to existing customers but they CAN work across multiple carriers including CDMA and GSM
(MetroPCS was CDMA now it's GSM also after T-Mobile acquisition)
My previous experience with freedomPop trial was that there was no MMS (group or picture messaging support). You are forced to use their app for messaging. This was a deal breaker for me. Not sure if that applies to this otherwise seemingly great deal.
I'd say the killer app for FreedomPop SIM cards is Particle Electron. It's a dev board(like an arduino) that has a built-in SIM card slot and cell radio. So, you can have it send data it collects to other applications through the cell network, or receive commands.
It comes with a SIM card, but it costs $3 per month to use it, and that only gives you 1MB per month of usage.
You could swap in one of these FreedomPop SIM cards, and get 200MB per month of data for free. That much data would cost about $200 with the SIM card that comes with the Particle Electron dev kit(not that you'd ever need that much data for most embedded applications).
So, for one $9.99 fee you can get data from your dev board, no matter where it is(within cell coverage), forever. That's a deal.
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References:
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2016/01/freedompop-launches-free-us-gsm-service.html
I use LTE (4g) for voice calls on google voice and it is clear as long as I am not in my car driving. If I am driving the connection becomes garbled.
(MetroPCS was CDMA now it's GSM also after T-Mobile acquisition)
It comes with a SIM card, but it costs $3 per month to use it, and that only gives you 1MB per month of usage.
You could swap in one of these FreedomPop SIM cards, and get 200MB per month of data for free. That much data would cost about $200 with the SIM card that comes with the Particle Electron dev kit(not that you'd ever need that much data for most embedded applications).
So, for one $9.99 fee you can get data from your dev board, no matter where it is(within cell coverage), forever. That's a deal.
https://store.particle.io/?product=particle-electron#electron-3g-americas
Thank you!