Posts tagged "ipod touch"

The MiFi Mobile Hotspot and iPod Touch: A Perfect Pair.

Create a Virtual iPhone with the iPod Touch and a Mobile Hotspot.

The "problem" with the newest generation of iPod Touch music and media players from Apple are that the devices are so damn good that users wind up clamoring for that last missing piece: the always on, instant availability of built-in 3G wireless broadband that it's big brother, the iPhone has.

On the other side of the coin there seems be more and more iPhone users who use the device primarily for data and text, but hardly use the built-in "Phone" features directly at all. It's pretty frustrating for these users who are paying 40 bucks a month (out of the total $90 monthly bill) just to make a couple of calls a month. They may be thinking, "Hey, I'm paying 100 bucks a month,  I'd gladly use an iPod Touch if it only had a build in data service? I could cut my bill in half!"

The iPod 3G?

With the release of the iPhone 4S in October of 2011, rumors were swirling that Apple would release a new third generation iPod Touch which was a "close cousin" to the iPhone than ever before. The new third-generation iPod Touch was rumored to have a 3G broadband modem built-in that would allow basic communications through designated wireless providers, arguably at a lower cost since the voice portion of the monthly service contract didn't need to apply this case. Well, the "iPod Touch 3G" never came to fruition, but all of the chatter served one good purpose. It got a lot of people talking about viable alternatives for the iPod Touch to increase its functionality to behave more like the iPhone, saving its users upwards of $1000 per year, as compared to the "full service" plans offered by Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

What is the magic solution to transmute an ordinary iPod touch into a virtual iPhone? Just add one of the new mobile hotspots, and you'll instantly create an entire new platform of opportunity to work with your iPod touch in a way that is cost efficient and productive.

The new generation of mobile hotspots, including the MiFi 4G and Samsung SCH-LC11 are nothing like their predecessors. While  both the original 3G and newer 4G mobile hotspots DO work the same way in that they allow five users or devices to connect to the web with a single shared data plan, the newest generation of 4G hotspots are so incredibly fast that they enable it's connected devices to blow away even the fastest current iPhone 4S in terms of network speed and download performance. With Verizon's new LTE 4G network, you're talking about download speeds that meet or exceed most broadband installations in the home, up to 15 Mbps download and 8 Mbs upload. no need to wait for the iPhone five and its purported 4G functionality built-in, build your own equivalent now with the 4G mobile hotspot.

How does a user enable phone and text messaging on an iPod Touch connected to a mobile hotspot?

1. The first order of business is to get a dedicated phone number and voice message center created. The most popular choice would be to install the Skype app and subscribe to premium Skype service which will runs $8-$12 per month, allowing you to make virtually all your calls for simply the cost of the Skype subscription.

2. A setting up SMS text messaging could not be easier. Hundreds of apps exist on Apple's App Store,  some even for free that will allow you to send and receive text messages over Wi-Fi which is connected through your mobile hotspot.

Disadvantages and potential impracticality's:

while the iPod Touch coupled to a mobile hotspot is an attractive option that allows its owner to create much of the functionality that exists on the iPhone, there is a couple of disadvantages and drawbacks you may want to be aware of before embarking on a project like this. A few tips in aspects we recommend you be aware of:

  • The mobile hotspot will need to be toted around with you (or at least within 30 feet) if you are hoping to utilize the iPod Touch as a real-time communications device
  • The mobile hotspot will also need to maintain its own battery charge, thus you need to be aware of its state of charge as well as charging cycle.
  • iPod Touch devices without a built in microphone will need to utilize earphones with an inline microphone in order to make voice calls.
  •  If the iPod or mobile hotspot is turned off, you will need a way to ensure that calls get routed to voice mail. This is sometimes a bit tricky to set up.
  • You'll need a data plan for the mobile hotspot; this typically costs $30-$60 per month

Summary of main advantages of a iPod Touch - Mobile Hotspot combo:

  • the prospect of saving up to $1000 per year, when you build your own  phone and SMS solution on the iPod Touch.
  • you'll be able to also use the hotspot to Web enable an additional four devices besides the iPod touch.
  • You won't be locked in to one single mobile provider, as you would with an iPhone.
  • You can take advantage of the fastest mobile broadband network to date, the Verizon 4G LTE wireless network ( something no iPhone to date supports natively).
  • Much less expensive upfront device costs. The iPhone four new costs around $700 upfront, where is an iPod Touch and prepaid mobile hotspot will run less than $300.