Walmart, Internet on the Go

We have been using the "On the Go" MIFI for nearly a year now. You will hear way more negative comments about this service than positive but, the comments that have been posted here are generally from those who have not been users of the service for many different reasons. I am always reluctant to post positive experiences we have had with this service since we are the obvious exception. Here is a link to an earlier discussion on this. Do your homework and see what works for you. It has been a very affordable option for us doing exactly what we intended it to do.

Walmart MIFI Internet on the GO

brobox wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? If so you can use it for a "free" hotspot with Foxfi

If not you can buy an older model Mifi on ebay and turn it on and off with no contract. I bought an older Verizon 760 for $10. before switching to a smartphone.

This option looks interesting. My contract runs out with Verizon in 9 days. I was already planning to get a new phone, Now I can take the list of supported phones with me to their store and get a phone supported by this ap.

From the looks of it, it will be even less expensive than the Walmart option. I’m fairly certain that when you have one of their phones the Internet service can be pay as you use it, even at higher rates, this will be cheaper than paying every month for something I rarely use.

BTW, I currently have a dumb phone, but this might prompt be me to move up to maybe 5th grade, not ready for college level smart yet!

Look at the Sprint "no contract" data coverage map. This is not the regular Sprint service data map. This will tell you where the coverage is for the Internet to Go service and hotspot device available at Walmart. Around large cities you should have coverage - way off interstates you will see that coverage is sparse. It very much depends on where you plan to travel to and use the service. Check out the map and you will have a good idea how good this is for you.

Another option may be to look at FreedomPop.com. Purchase their mobile modem or hotspot, and you get 500MB of 4G data per month FREE. Just 0.02 per MB additional. Buy their home modem router, and get 1G of 4G data per month FREE, 0.005 per additional MB. Or you can get 10G of 4G data for $10. per month.

FreedomPop uses CLEAR 4G WiMax network, and speed is limited to 1.5Mbps. In fact, I received a Free mobile 4G modem during a promotion for S&H, for basically being on their email list. Just haven't had much time to evaluate their service as I already have an unlimited 4G CLEAR Hotspot.

BTW, Sprint purchased CLEAR pending FCC approval. They apparently intend to upgrade existing WiMax towers to LTE to build out their own 4G network.

The Internet On The Go MiFi device is only available at Walmart (there are a few for sale on eBay though). The downside to the service is that it only uses Sprint's "Nationwide Network", that's really anything but "nationwide". Roaming is not supported. If Sprint's own non-roaming network is available where you want to use the service, then this can be a good option for intermittent service. I'm considering getting one myself to augment my Millenicom 20GB/mo Verizon service when I occasionally run a bit short near the end of the month.

Do you have a smartphone? If so you can use it for a "free" hotspot with Foxfi

If not you can buy an older model Mifi on ebay and turn it on and off with no contract. I bought an older Verizon 760 for $10. before switching to a smartphone.

To stay on topic, like most things Wal Mart sells, they mark it up much less than the mom and pops, so you probably are getting a better deal on this type of internet service.

Local-owned stores often mark things up much, much more because they don't have the volume that the big box stores have. They usually don't have the great return policy that the big box stores have.

Now, if you are computer illiterate and need great service after the sale, Wal Mart might not be the best place to buy. If you're like me and can figure most things out on your own or with a little research, the big box stores should work.

As to the specific internet service you asked about, I'm about as helpful as Supercharged.;)

The coverage area is very small. I will stay with the Verizon prepaid Jetpack.

Looks pretty slick. You'll know shortly how much data you need. Do you have a smart phone?