Mobile Broadband Demystified
Looks like finally the prepaid for mobile broadband is slowly, but surely reaching the new world.
AT&T today has launched the Mobile Broadband Data prepaid plan.
Prepaid mobile broadband data services are extremely popular in Europe. In the US, however, any Internet addict with attention deficit, willing to take the Net on the road, needed to indenture themselves into a contract with AT&T even if they wanted to pay monthly…
Good news today to all the folks living in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Thanks to good old Verizon Wireless, soon 3G mobile coverage (including broadband data) will be as “unparalleled” as in the rest of New England.
Verizon has just announced that they will be heavily investing in the region due to “rising demand for wireless voice, 3G Multimedia, and Internet access”.
Sprint has just acquired Virgin Mobile USA.
So what? Well, it does show that importance and popularity of prepaid plans finally has been noticed by the big company.
Verizon has recently announced an addition to its Mobile Broadband Modems lineup. Manufactured by ZTE, the AD3700 features global connectivity. Up to June 2009, only AT&T could proudly advertise global mobile broadband connectivity due to their choice of global mobile network standard – GSM/UMTS/HSPA.
Verizon and Sprint, however, having built on CDMA/EvDO standard, could cover only North America, including USA and Canada.
Recent announcements from Verizon might change all that.
Pay as You go mobile broadband is rather wide spread in Europe, but here in North America, the only option to get online over mobile network has so far been tying yourself with minimum 2-year contract that will set you back cool $60 bucks/month or up to $175 in fees if you decide to quit.
Not anymore. Virgin Mobile USA has just rolled out the Broadband2Go mobile broadband service sans contract.
Summary: USBConnect Velocity for AT&T is one of the two latest AT&T 3G HSPA USB sticks. It features retractable USB connector, World connectivity with quad band HSPA, capable of blazing speeds – 7.2Mbps download and 5.76Mbps upload, and has integrated microSD slot for SDHC cards up to 32Gb
Pros: Global connectivity with quad band HSPA, Assisted GPS integrated with applications, high HSPA data speeds, microSD slot up to 32Gb, built in VPN client
Cons: no swivel connector
Rating:
– Excellent
Price: $279.99 Free with 2 year AT&T Contract
By Mobile Warp on Apr 11, 08:22 PM
Summary: USBConnect Lightning for AT&T is the latest slick HSPA USB stick with ulraflexible sviwel connector, capable of lightning speeds – 7.2Mbps download and 2Mbps upload, and integrated microSD slot for SDHC cards up to 32Gb
Pros: Global connectivity, cool ultraflexible swivel connector, high HSPA data speeds, microSD slot up to 32Gb
Cons: no GPS
Rating:
– Excellent
Price: $249.99 Free with 2 year AT&T Contract
By Mobile Warp on Jan 11, 04:48 PM
Finding the best mobile broadband provider could be tricky.
It will depend on both what you’ll be using Mobile Internet for and the areas where you intend be connecting. From the top network providers in the U.S. such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, some of them do better in some areas than others like coverage and connection speed.
Finding the right one for you will take some research. Main points to consider, however, are the speed of the network, the coverage, and a crucial point is making sure that the chosen coverage performs well in the area where you will be using it.
In the mobile and wireless area, one of major online mobile retailers – Firefly – has just come up with a bunch of cool deals for tomorrow – Black Friday, and the following weekend, which they call Cyber Monday.
Interestingly enough, the offers are online exclusive, so don’t even waste your time going to the brick and mortar dealer store unless you’d like to sample the goods…
More Deals …