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FreedomPop is Developing a 'WiFi-first' Smartphone in Partnership with Intel

FreedomPop is Developing a 'WiFi-first' Smartphone in Partnership with Intel Image Credit: Intel

US-based MVNO, FreedomPop recently announced that it has secured strategic financing from Intel Capital to expand its FreedomPop branded smartphone lineup. The funds will support the 2016 commercial launch of a Wi-Fi first smartphone, which will utilize Intel's new Sofia platform, allowing users to easily take advantage of the rapidly growing ecosystem of Wi-Fi hotspots for mobile voice, text and data services.

According to FreedomPop, the SoFIA based Wi-Fi first smartphone will be very competitively priced and will include technology oriented to a Wi-Fi first world, including seamless Wi-Fi-to-cellular switching, the ability to throttle and boost network speeds at device level, and high quality VoIP calls. 

Early this year, the MVNO which runs on Sprint network launched a low-cost WiFi service, where a user gets unlimited use of, and automatic sign-on to, 10 million hotspots across the U.S. for $5.

Sam Spangler, Vice President of the Platform Engineering Group and general manager of Phones at Intel Corp
Mobile consumers continue to look for more ways to save on mobile bills, and a Wi-Fi first smartphone allows them to use a more cost-effective network.

Stephen Stokols, FreedomPop founder and CEO
We've upended the mobile market with free text, data, and voice services for any U.S. mobile user, and now we've formed a strategic alliance with Intel to bring cutting-edge, yet affordable, devices to consumers. 

Author

Ray is a news editor at The Fast Mode, bringing with him more than 10 years of experience in the wireless industry.

For tips and feedback, email Ray at ray.sharma(at)thefastmode.com, or reach him on LinkedIn @raysharma10, Facebook @1RaySharma

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