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It's always-on in the sense that when I request data, it will automatically connect and retrieve that data (charging me for at least one minute). It is not always on in the sense that I can maintain a static TCP connection 24 hours a day. That would use up way too many minutes.

Maybe you're thinking of the business plan, which charges by the Kb rather than the minute. I can see how that could be always on...

• the Express Network data session automatically terminates after 5 minutes of inactivity.
• the Express Network data session automatically terminates after 24 hours of activity.

Nope, I guess not. Now if properly implemented, businesses could still send 4 bytes/second, 24 hours a day, and not use up its bandwidth allotment of 10 megs. Maybe 8 bytes/second, 12 hours a day makes more sense.

Personally I'm holding out for richochet, or some other always-on service. I don't mind paying per meg, but I need the convenience of being able to push data, and I'd like to be able to set a daily usage limit if the allowance is small.

In the mean time my iPaq sits here only able to sync with the world when it's around an open 802.11 access point. I'd like to install a hard drive with an 802.11 hookup in my car, so I at least have more than 64 megs storage space when I'm in the vicinity of my car, but that's a task I don't yet have the time/money/geekfactor to do.

144kbps theoretical max. Wonderful stuff, you can even watch streaming movies. At 10 megabytes for $35, that's $3.69 a minute for that streaming movie. Still interested?

Sprint:

http://www.sprintpcs.com

Verizon:

http://www.verizonwireless.com

Verizon = $249.00
SprintPCS = $140.00

SprintPCS $50.00 rebate

Free Wireless Web & Voice Command for 3 months

And when you get your phone in, if you choose a year long contract from sprint and are a new customer you get a 75.00 rebate. (atleast i did)

Now for the 40 bucks or so after all rebates, you get a wireless phone, wap device, cell phone, great calling plan and a full blow Palm OS PDA to boot.

That link appears dead, try this one. It's only available in major metropolitan areas it seems - that's too bad, something like this will need wide availability before it really begins to take off. 20mbps sounds high too, that's 2 megabytes/sec. No one offers that kind of service to my knowledge. Verizon's site posts about an express service at 144 Kbps, but nothing faster is mentioned.

With Verizon's new network (3G) it will, probably get faster eventually.

What's the big deal? That it is Intel making the hardware (and pushing the smaller guys out in the process)?

May be, Intel will offer open-source drivers for this hardware, though. Because Verizon only claims to support Windows and Mac (surprise!) with the hardware it offers from some obscure vendors.

On the Verizon Express Network Terms and Conditions page, it states:

Charges for each Express Network data session that connects begin when you press or click the "SEND" or "Connect" button and have selected the "Express Network (1XRTT)" option at the user interface. Charges end when you press or click the "END" or "Disconnect" button.

OK, now imagine you are using the Sierra Aircard 550 PCMCIA card. Does just turning on the laptop start the session (and billing)?

I wonder if the PC card or interface software can be smart enough to recognize that it only needs to be connected to the network when you are sending or receiving data. The actual data utilization of most Web browsing at 114 kbps is probably only 10-20% of actual time spent by the surfer.

Of course, it you are watching video pr0n, your results may be higher.

Relevant links:

http://news.verizonwireless.com/

http://www.verizonwireless.com/express_network/

Relevant links:

http://news.verizonwireless.com/

http://www.verizonwireless.com/express_network/

here's the news announcement, conveniently linked one page away from the front page of Verizon Wireless. Way to go on that investigative reporting on a repeat of a story from yesterday, Timmy!

Express Network

http://www.verizonwireless.com/express_network/ind ex.html

There is the link from verizon. It seems that right now service is limited only to those that have wireless service with verizon already. Although unlimited at $30/month is not bad.

Here is a link from verizon showing coverage and pricing

The one thing that 3G is going to do for me is FINALLY provide a decent wireless service for my PDA that i can pay for along with my cell phone.

Heh, I'm sure with the wonderful providers that exist in the United States, you will probably have the luxary of paying for the added services on a "per-byte" basis...

Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless are currently in a race to roll out 3G here in the USA by the end of this year. They are both using cdma2000, a 3G stadard which requires no additional spectrum.

Sprint PCS 3G FAQ

Verizon Wireless Press Release

That's Bell Atlantic Mobile & PrimeCo, not MCI/Sprint.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with over 16 million wireless voice and data customers and nearly 4 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE:BEL) and Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD; NYSE:VOD). The new company includes the assets from Bell
Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. Verizon Wireless will be further strengthened by the addition of the wireless assets of GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE) when it completes its merger with Bell Atlantic. When the merger is complete, the new company will have a footprint covering more than 90% of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in New York City and Bedminster, NJ, is 30,000 employees strong.