FreedomPop today announced the availability of its first smartphone. It is selling the HTC EVO Design for $99 without a contract.
The smartphone, though several years old, can access Sprint’s CDMA and WiMAX networks for data and voice services. FreedomPop is not selling new smartphones; instead, the EVO Design has been refurbished and loaded with FreedomPop’s software. Rather than use traditional voice, FreedomPop’s voice calls are sent over the data network through VoIP technology. FreedomPop offers 200 voice minutes, 500 texts, and 500MB of data free each month, and today introduced a plan that includes unlimited texting and calling for $10.99 a month. FreedomPop is an MVNO that uses Sprint’s network. In August, it announced that it is transitioning from Sprint’s WiMAX network to Sprint’s LTE network, but it is so far offering only one LTE-capable product (a mobile hotspot).
FreedomPop said that it will offer LTE-capable smartphones later this year, though price points will be closer to $200.
