FreedomPop's WiMAX iPhone sleeve hits an FCC snag

You may have already pre-ordered FreedomPop's almost-too-good-to-be-true iPhone accessory back in May, but it seems the FCC is still in the process of approving the device. FreedomPop CEO Stephen Stokols told FierceWireless that the agency is taking issue with the sleeve's design, noting that the snap-on case places the built-in WiMAX radio right next to the iPhone's own cellular radio. Stokols added that the company has 5,000 of the new sleeves waiting at US Customs, and will begin shipping them as soon as the FCC gives the go-ahead.

FreedomPop's powerful accessory will offer customers 500 MB of free mobile data over Clearwire's 4G WiMAX network, with Sprint's 4G LTE network joining in sometime in 2013. Additional tiered data plans will also be available. FreedomPop expects the FCC to be finished with its approval process within the next few weeks.