Oct 4, 2010 14:43 GMT  ·  By

Today, wireless carrier Verizon announced the launch of a new 3G Mobile HotSpot for its customers, the Verizon Wireless Fivespot. The new device comes from ZTE USA, Inc. and is the first Global Ready 3G Mobile HotSpot.

Through the new hotspot, users would be able to connect to a 3G network and share the connection with a number of up to five devices that sport Wi-Fi connectivity options, including netbooks, tablets and gaming devices.

The new Verizon Wireless Fivespot sports a pre-installed SIM card and enables access to global data services in over 200 countries, (with 3G speeds available in more than 120 of them when subscribing to a GlobalAccess plan).

The new device includes support for CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A/Rev. 0: 800/1900 MHz, WCDMA/HSDPA/HSUPA: 850/1900/2100 MHz and GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz connectivity options.

The specs list of Fivespot also includes VPN support, LED indicators and One-click to power on/off, all in a device that measures 3.92 x 2.11 x 0.55 inches and weighs in at 2.82 ounces.

The new Fivespot is expected to become available for purchase at Verizon Wireless on October 7th with a price tag of $99.99 upon the signing of a new two-year customer agreement, and after a $100 mail-in rebate.

At the same time, the wireless carrier announced that users would have to sign up for a plan on its Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband network, and that they would also enjoy access to thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots for free.

The available options include, among others, $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance and $0.05/MB overage, or Prepaid Mobile Broadband plans like $15 for 100 MB (one day of use), $50 for 1 GB (30 days of use), or $80 for 5 GB (30 days of use).

Those Verizon Wireless customers interested in traveling abroad would have the following options available for them:

- $129.99 monthly access (5 GB allowance for the United States and Canada, $0.05/MB overage), 100 MB allowance in select countries ($0.005/KB after allowance) - $219.99 monthly access (5 GB allowance for the United States and Canada, $0.05/MB overage), 200 MB allowance in select countries ($0.005/KB after allowance) - GlobalAccess Pay Per Use for occasional use must be purchased with a $59.99 Mobile Broadband service plan in the United States. The Pay Per Use rate is $0.002/KB in Canada, $0.005/KB in Mexico, and $0.02/KB in more than 200 other destinations.

More details on the available plans, as well as addition info on the new device, can be found on the wireless carrier's website.