Most of you guys posting are way more talented geeks, but thanks to this thread I turned the free Test Drive Franklin T9 into a budget backup hotspot to cover gaps in the field and at home when the wired Internet and wifi crap out.
Bottom line used for the SIM code unlock. Used my initial $15/mo T-Mobile Connect UNL Talk & Text w/2GB data SIM card to get a number & to confirm speed/coverage. Changed the plan to a mobile data only (2GB) option @ $10/mo. Ran that SIM on my phone, powered off and put that SIM card into my now unlocked Franklin T9 and restarted the T9. Viola! A complimentary Franklin T9 Mobile Hotspot. T-Mobile has the superior LTE data throughput inside my home vs ATT/Verizon. I can upgrade/downgrade the prepaid data plan as needed without carrying the extra expense of a voice/text plan or just activate/deactivate data service as needed.
Yes, T-mobile stuck me for $25 on the initial SIM card cost and activation for the Prepaid phone SIM.
Still not clear if an unlocked T9 works with Mobile data only AT&T SIMs or Verizon SIMS or MVNO data only SIMS plans or what exact tweaks accomplish that.