Korean Telecom gives the iPhone 4 WiMAX capabilities

If there’s one thing that the iPhone 4 doesn’t have that a number of other phones do, it’s 4G connectivity. Apple, being their usual self isn’t keen to hop on the high-speed data broadband yet and so consumers looking for a 4G device in the market have been forced to exclude the phone based just on that. But some things are about to change.

Korea Telecom is now selling the 4G-capable iPhone 4, or at least a device that makes the iPhone 4 capable of transferring data at such speeds. Now you must be wondering, since when did Apple come up with such a device? Apple didn’t. Korean Telecom has just unveiled the Egg Series iPhone WiMAX Sleeve, the KWF-B2500.

The KWF-B2500 is a protective case that wraps your iPhone 4 in solid plastic, with a WiMAX radio embedded into the case itself, letting your iPhone connect to the internet at high-speeds. The case itself comes with an extra battery so your iPhone doesn’t die twice as fast, but it does add some bulk to the device but it means you’ll be able to surf for 5 extra hours on 4G.

For those who would prefer to keep their original iPhone 4 case and yet surf the net at WiMAX speeds, Korea Telecom has also released a new Egg Series 4G Hotspot. It is 60% smaller than all their previous MiFi units and will give up to 4 hours of continuous usage on a single charge.

Both the Egg Series iPhone WiMAX Sleeve and Egg Series 4G Hotspot are on sale now for about $120. No word if similar technologies will make their way to our shores, but I’m pretty sure it won’t make anyone unhappy to have such options.

George Wong
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: 4G, iPhone 4, wimax