ZTE PEEL?

Compatibility

Designed for Windows ® 7, Vista, XP; Macintosh OS 10.5, 10.6

Antenna

High performance built-in antenna and external antenna jack included

Security

Employs CDMA wireless technology authentication and identification system for top-notch security.

Easy start-up

No software installation required

Built-In Wi-Fi Capability

High-speed data connection between the device and nearby Wi-Fi access points for the ultimate in mobile connectivity.

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Amazon review from member:

The ZTE Peel from Sprint is a great product, and as I stated in the review title, appropriate for those of us who want the iPhone DATA experience but don't want to pay the immense monthly bills that accompany most Smartphone service nowadays.

The Peel is basically a MiFi (Mobile WiFi) device operating at 3G speeds over Sprint's network. It rebroadcasts the 3G signal in the form of a Wireless computer network, effective up to about 20 feet. Any WiFi capable device, such as a PC or the intended audience, an Apple iPod Touch owner, can connect to the WiFi network and from there get on the Internet.

The form factor of the Peel is deliberate. It's designed specifically for the Apple iPod Touch 2nd and 3rd Generation, with the music player snapping firmly into the Peel, forming a two-piece "sled." It does make the overall package bulkier, but I like it because I prefer something substantial to grip. Just because it's bulky doesn't mean it's uncomfortable. The Peel is very rounded and has no sharp edges at all, so it will slip into a pants or large shirt pocket just fine. If you don't own an iPod Touch, no problem. Any WiFi capable device can connect to the Peel.

The physical controls are rather simple, and herein lies one of the reasons why it's a four-star review. There's a single power/status button on the back and a recessed reset button (accessible via paperclip or pen tip). At the bottom rear, there are five LED lights that provide status messages depending on color and number of indicators lit. That's it. A long press (4-5 seconds) turns on the Peel, a shorter press shuts it off. Quick presses of the button wake the device from standby, or tell you what the battery status is, all in conjunction with the LED lights. It takes a while to figure out, and I'm not sure it was worth forcing all of those functions on a single button. It's almost as if the Peel was attempting to match the simplicity of it's intended companion the Touch (with it's own single Home button design), but didn't quite get there. Overall, it's a matter of learning to decrypt the status lights, so it's not a deal-breaker.

The other half of the controls is the actual management of the Administrative pages where you can configure the Peel's settings. Much like a home wireless router connected to cable/DSL, the Peel has a built-in server that hosts web pages where it can be customized. The good news is that you don't need a PC to view the pages. ZTE thoughtfully configured the pages to be viewed and manipulated directly on the iPod Touch's Safari web browser. While the configuration itself is relatively straight-forward, it's the actual selection of the security encryption that is another reason to rate the Peel downward. The Peel uses WEP, which in layman's terms is very weak security and easily hacked. Ideally you want to enable security on the Peel because you're essentially broadcasting a free WiFi signal to anyone around you. Enabling security forces someone unauthorized to provide the correct password in order to use the Peel. While it will deter the casual WiFi user who's just mooching for a free signal, the security is extremely weak and it's compromises are well documented. Five minutes using a Search engine can given anyone the ability to download the right tools to break into a WEP network, no expertise needed. The best settings for the Peel are to enable a security password, change the admin password from the default, use Open Key and disable SSID broadcast. That's about as good as it gets. Why ZTE chose WEP over the more robust WPA/WPA2 is puzzling and disappointing. The security protocol choice makes it likely that you should NOT be using the Peel as an always-on connection; eventually you will pass enough packets to allow an attacker to figure out your security password. Changing your security password regularly is also recommended. The 1GB plan (see below) is also unfavorable to those looking to use the Peel as a substitute for a cable/DSL/satellite connection for home/office use.

The Peel comes with only one service plan - 1GB cap limit for 30 days. Overages are charged accordingly. The good news is that it's on a No-Contract basis. You can walk away anytime which is why it's compelling to me.

In field use, the Peel just works. I fired it up, connected to the Internet and confirmed all was working. I stopped, turned on the Security settings and away you go. The Peel's connection was fast, and to my user experience, not much different than using WiFi at home or at a coffee shop. All the apps on my Touch worked. It takes a little getting used to mounting and dismounting the Touch from the Peel, but it snaps in crisply and comes out easily enough. In retrospect, ZTE should have considered adding a pass-through connection to allow the iPod to be charged separately from the Peel without dismounting it, but that's a small complaint. I discovered that any micro-USB charger (PC/wall/car) works to power and charge it. Better yet, unlike some MiFi modems, the Peel works even if you are charging it, no matter the power source.

Overall, I'm pleased with the Peel. It's a great way to remain connected. Granted, for the iPod Touch to really replace the iPhone, you'd need to supplement it with Voice-over-IP applications like Skype in order to make phone calls. But since my primary purpose is to have an "anywhere" data connection, the Peel gives me the iPhone experience without the iPhone's monthly bill. The 1GB cap may be a limit to heavy users, but for people looking to have convenience and connectivity anywhere for their data needs, the Peel is a great solution.