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One of the hottest technology trends around today is the ability to get
online anywhere, anytime. Without a WISP (Wireless ISP) service in your
area, or wifi at Starbucks, your favorite coffee shop, or even some
McDonalds and Burger Kings, you don't have a choice, you cannot get
online. Or at least that was true in the past.
The major cellular vendors are beefing up their networks for what is
believed to be one of the "next big things". You see, these vendors
like Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS/Nextel, Cingular, and T-Mobile have
all invested millions of dollars in providing cellular towers across
the country so that you can get a cell signal in almost any decently
populated areas. Competition is fierce, and each carrier is looking for
some kind of value-added service or function to entice customers to
switch to their service.
One of the biggest things they have done recently is to allow you to
get online from your laptop computer using one of their "air cards",
sometimes known as an "EVDO card". These cards plug into the PCMCIA
slot on your laptop (almost all laptops have a PCMCIA slot), and as
long as you can pick up a decent signal from that carrier's cell tower,
you can get online with your laptop and this manufacturer-specific air
card!
Verizon and Cingular appear to be leading the pack with this
technology, with new high-speed hotspots appearing regularly across the
country. Sprint is also investing heavily into creating more
Sprint-specific hotspot areas for their service. T-Mobile also has this
service available. With these carriers, you can get the "data-only"
plan without being required to have one of that carrier's voice/cell
service plans.
From a performance perspective, T-Mobile trails the pack significantly.
Although their plan is the cheapest (about $30 per month for unlimited
access), performance is barely as good as a dial-up connection. But if
dial-up speed is sufficient for you, this can be a very mobile and
cost-effective option.
As of the end of February 2006, in areas where Verizon had their
high-speed option available, average download speed was measured at
563k, which is a speed that many home DSL or cable users don't get as
high as. Verizon currently has this service available in about 70
markets. About 38% of responders reported seeing speeds greater than
600k.
In areas where the high-speed version of the Sprint equivalent is
available, average download speed is reported as 641k, and is available
in about 108 markets nationwide. About 47% reported seeing speeds
higher than 600k regularly.
The Cingular equivalent reported an average download speed of 581k in areas where the service is available.
Be SURE to set your expectations correctly. A strong cell signal is
required from the carrier providing the service to get the best
possible speed, in the same sense that a voice cell connection may be
scratchy if the cell signal in a given location is marginal. In areas
that can deliver this data service but have not yet been upgraded to
provide the high-speed option, typical connection speed (again with a
strong cell signal) is reported as significantly less, around 152k as
an average, or about 3 times the speed of a decent dial-up connection.
The plans can be a bit pricey, but you're paying for truly mobile
connectivity without being tied to an Ethernet cable and modem, or a
particular coffee shop hotspot offering wireless like Starbucks. The
plans run about $80 per month for unlimited access, although Verizon
recently announced a plan offering their unlimited access plan for $60
if you also get a 2 year voice cellular plan with it (at additional
cost of course). The carriers also have cheaper plans with a monthly
data transfer limit, but be very aware that if you start using this
regularly, the overage charges will end up costing much more than just
opting for the "unlimited" plan in the first place.
The good news is that it's easier to learn about, shop, and compare ALL
of these plans and the "air cards" now than it ever has been.
The additional good news is that a LOT of people are not aware that
this capability exists, and it exists at a price that is much less than
it was only a year or two ago! So take advantage of the
possibilities....and expand your wireless experience!
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