You can choose your provider the reason is this, Verizon and AT&T/T-Mobile use two different codecs, the Hot Spot is programmed for one or the other (AT&T and T-mobile both use the same programs and can share towers, may or may not depending on your plan but can).
So your hardware is compatible with one or the other but not both.. Thus, as someone up-thread put it the model of the device determines the provider.
The sales staff MIGHT (or not) know which witch is which.
Once you open the box and call the 1-800 number, they will know.
