Earlier last week, ZTE , a telecommunications manufacturer, sent the heavily anticipated global WiFi hotspot, the “FiveSpot”, to the FCC for approval. It had previously been leaked as a Verizon product, so when the device was sent to the FCC under the ZTE manufacturer name, and not with the expected Verizon branding, most technology analysts missed it in the news.
The FiveSpot is a welcomed advancement on the technological front because it is expected to replace the few years-old MiFi. The MiFi is a solid product, and there are currently three versions, the MiFi 2200, MiFi 2372 and MiFi 2352. The 2200 is unique because it is for CDMA networks only. These devices are locked, meaning that you can’t switch carriers at your will. The 2372 and 2352, on the other hand, are for GSM networks. They are unlocked, and work in North America and Europe, respectively. The FiveSpot is global and features both CDMA and GSM radios, enabling the device to work well in over 40 countries. It will be a welcome update to the already enjoyed MiFi models.
There is a lot of speculation as to why the device was sent to the FCC without the Verizon branding. Engadget is following rumors that Verizon dropped the product to make room for their LTE plans. The blog on Nexus404 is under the impression that the product will return with a Verizon branding. No information has been released as to the release date or pricing of the device yet.
