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Freedom4 launches combined 3G, Wi-Fi dongle

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David Meyer ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 03 Oct 2008 13:19 BST

Freedom4, the wireless network operator formerly known as Pipex Wireless, has launched a dongle that can use both 3G and Wi-Fi, choosing the best connection at the time.

The Mobile Broadband 1000 service, announced on Wednesday, uses a Wi-Fi hotspot locator from Satellite Navigation Services and connectivity to 3 and T-Mobile's cellular networks. The service is offered through the Freedom4 WiFi subsidiary, the renamed version of Bozii, a Wi-Fi roaming-services company bought by Freedom4 in May.

According to Freedom4 WiFi's chief operating officer, Richard Cunliffe, the company's research has "shown that the new combined package can provide speeds significantly faster than other mobile-broadband products in the marketplace". This is, however, based on the fact that Wi-Fi tends to outperform 3G in terms of speed; as the research document states: "The fastest Wi-Fi hotspots are 6.5 times faster than the fastest 3G speeds recorded".

Also on Wednesday, Freedom4 announced Wi-Fi roaming deals with Spectrum Interactive and Briteyellow. According to the company, these deals now take Freedom4's hotspot total in the UK to over 4,000, and globally to 50,000. The company claimed that, taking into account both Wi-Fi and 3G coverage, Freedom4 can now provide "wireless broadband" to 99 percent of the UK population.

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Prior to buying Bozii, Freedom4 was most notable for its work in the field of WiMax, the long-range, high-bandwidth wireless technology that is slowly becoming available in the UK and elsewhere. Only fixed WiMax is currently available, with the technology's mobile variant depending on a 2.6GHz spectrum auction that is supposed to happen late this year, but is currently being delayed by legal action from mobile operators such as T-Mobile and O2.

Cunliffe told ZDNet.co.uk on Friday that, as soon as Freedom4's mobile WiMax networks are "in a state that can be used by the public", WiMax connectivity would be integrated into the company's mobile-broadband services.

Freedom4's ability to offer mobile WiMax will rely both on the spectrum auction and the company's ability to convert its fixed-WiMax licence into a mobile-WiMax licence for services running over the 3.6GHz band — a process that could make limited mobile-WiMax provision possible, independently of the 2.6GHz auction.