PC World — Clearwire is offering a pay-as-you-go mobile hotspot called the Rover Puck as an alternative route to its 4G service. Aimed at consumers who don't want to commit to (or can't qualify for) a service contract, this very portable device lets you become a walking hotspot, sharing 4G Internet access with up to seven friends.

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The catch is that you can use it only in Clearwire's WiMax service areas. I took it to an offsite staff meeting, but the building was not quite within range of the WiMax signal. The WiMax symbol (which resembles a martini glass) on the top of the disc flashes as the device seeks a signal, and stays solid when the Puck is connected to WiMax service. I walked about 20 feet from the meeting room and got a connection, but the WiMax indicator started flashing when I returned to the meeting. What's more, the Puck doesn't support 3G--and though Clear is ambitiously expanding its WiMax service, that service still doesn't reach some places I frequently go. But if you stick to WiMax turf, the Puck is a good and economical option.

About the same size as Clearwire's Clear Spot 4G, the $150 Puck connects to the same Clear WiMax network as other Clear 4G products, but it doesn't require a contract. In contrast, the Clear Spot 4G router costs $100 outright (as of October 1, 2010) or you can lease it for $5 monthly, but it requires a contract of about $30 per month for unlimited use.

Clearwire created the Rover brand to market two products designed for customers who prefer to pay by the month for 4G network access: the Puck hotspot and the single-user USB Rover Stick. The pay-per-use option for the Puck costs $5 for a day, $20 for a week, or $50 for a month of 4G service.

The Puck is an attractive glossy black disk with blue trim (instead of the Clear brand's characteristic lime green). It seems sturdy; I dropped it (accidentally) a couple times and it didn't even scuff, and it easily fits into a backpack or purse. It measures 4.25 inches in diameter and is about 0.75 inch high (with "feet" to permit a little air flow under the disk--a good thing, because it can get a bit warm, though the heat didn't seem to hamper performance. The only wired connectivity is via a micro-USB port to accommodate an AC or car charger (both are included in the package). The two buttons at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock on the side of the disk are small but serviceable. One powers on the device; the other displays the bars of connectivity (the maximum is four).

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