Hands On: FreedomPop Modems, iPhone and iPod Sleeves

Ever wish you could get online while on the go without having to pay for an expensive hotspot data plan? Well today's your lucky day, now that FreedomPop has finally launched its long-awaited, free 4G Internet beta.

Right now, FreedomPop is offering up two different cellular modems—the Freedom Spot Photon and the Freedom Stick Bolt—which allow you to get online for free. We got to take a test run, and also look at the upcoming Freedom Sleeves, which provide a 4G connection to your iPhone or iPod touch.

First let's talk about the modems. The Freedom Spot Photon is a tiny, portable hotspot that allows you to get up to eight devices online. The Freedom Stick Bolt, meanwhile, is a USB modem that allows for a plug-and-play connection on your laptop or PC. They actually look like the same exact devices as the Clear Spot Voyager and the Clear Stick Atlas. That makes sense, since FreedomPop's service currently runs on Clearwire's 4G WiMAX network. It will switch to Sprint's 4G LTE network early next year.

We also got to take a look at the Freedom Sleeves for the iPhone and iPod touch. The phone sleeve is compatible with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, while the iPod touch sleeve is compatible with any iPod touch. They snap onto your device, and you can then connect to them via Wi-Fi to provide a wireless connection.

Using any of these devices, you can surf the Web, stream video, and do anything else you'd be able to using a network connection that you'd have to pay for elsewhere. FreedomPop plans to add free voice calls at some point, but until then, you'll have to use a VoIP client.

So how does it work? With the free plan, you get 500MB of data every month. You also get an additional 10MB of data for every friend you refer, up to 1GB per month. Heavier data users will be able to earn up to 5GB of additional free data by engaging in partner offers and promotions, and friends can share and request data from one another. If you need more than that, data costs $0.02 per every 1MB you go over. Bucket data plans are also available at $17.99 per month for 2GB of data, or $28.99 per month for 4GB.

We tested the modems and sleeves in New York City, and saw average speeds of 10Mbps down and 1Mbps up. Not too shabby—especially when you consider the price.

If your location qualifies for FreedomPop's beta, you can get sign up for a free Freedom Stick or Freedom Spot today. Each requires a refundable security deposit, but is completely free otherwise. And you can trade it in for Sprint-compatible devices once FreedomPop has made the switch.

FreedomPop will also begin to ship its iPhone and iPod Freedom Sleeves within the next four to six weeks, and is at work on sleeves compatible with the iPhone 5.

We'll be putting the modems through their paces later this week. Check back soon for a closer look.