Novatel’s WiMax MiFi at FCC, Headed for Sprint

Sprint has launched the Overdrive, a portable hotspot device that allows users to connect up to five devices to the carrier’s mobile broadband 3G CMDA or 4G WiMax network, and now the Overdrive is either getting a companion or a replacement in the form of the Novatel MiFi 4082 in Sprint’s lineup. The WiMax MiFi device from Novatel–the Overdrive was made by rival Sierra Wireless–will also be a multi-mode device that can connect to 4G WiMax where available and to a CDMA/EVDO 3G connection everywhere else. Size and specs about the device is unknown at this point, but hopefully Novatel can continue the MiFi’s worthy heritage with a slimmer, sleeker device like the current generation 3G-only MiFi unit, also available via Sprint, that’s smaller than the Overdrive.