2gbps Wireless Network Rollout this Summer

cpfeifer writes "Washington Post has this article about Verizon rolling out it's ultrawideband wireless service based on EvDO (Evolution Data Only). Reiter breaks 1xEV-DO down for us."

Comments

I can't wait until this "just happens"

[Trolling4Dollars]

For years now, we've been getting the wireless internet dick tease and it hasn't really happened on a grand scale. I know that a lot of folks are probably going to say "yeah, but this is the real thing..." However, I am going to argure that it isn't. I think that the "REAL THING" will happen when people realize that all the world needs is just one big 802.11? blanket. Everything and anything connecting to each other for standard ports only and blocking everything else. No need for privacy since that is a thing of the past, just open the floodgates and let it happen. Once that happens, the wired Internet will dissipate into the background...

Find out why it is that Slashdot's moderation system is broken by clicking here...

Faster Connection & Security?

[VGMSupreme]

I am all for faster connection speeds. I would like to be able to download software apps at something faster than 30-100 kbps (depending on that site I am at). I am sure this will benefit tons of people, but I do have a few questions. Yes, I read the article, but I am still unsure about a few things.

1) As always, service tends to go down, no matter what ISP you are using. So I was wondering how reliable this service will be when it gets up and running. I know Verizon is already known for it good service on cell phones, but I just want to make sure that it won't go down as often as RR, or any other Cable/DSL ISP.

2) For the wireless people, how are they going to provide security for using this faster connection (if any would be provided. I am not sure if it is the company's or the customer's responsibility for the security of data transmitted over a wireless connection)

3) Would this service require more digging/repairing/installing new component and ripping out the old on, or are they going to build on top of existing hardware/software already in the works?

I know that some of these questions sound stupid to the average /.er, but I am just trying to understand a few things, and just like my mom taught me, there is no harm in asking.

Re:But how much speed do you need?

[binaryDigit]

Ah, but when you have your gsm phone bluetoothed (or tethered) to your laptop, then you have access in a significantly larger area than any measly WiFi hotpoints. Combine this with vpn, and one can easily extend their corp networks to those in the field. This means that people like real estate agents can get listings away from their offices, your appliance repair person can lookup a part and order it without involving a phone rep (cheaper for the repair company), and myriad other things that my feeble brain can't come up with right now. While private use may be lagging, I think that this type of techology will open up some very interesting possibilities in the business sector.

Sprint PCS? Nationwide???

[Andy Dodd]

Look at their coverage map... Sprint PCS coverage isn't nationwide, it's "Little itty bitty spots scattered across the nation".

Did you know that Sprint PCS doesn't even have coverage for their headquarters building?

Sprint also can't even cover more than 50% of the landmass of the most densely populated state in the USA (New Jersey). Verizon America's Choice, on the other hand, covers every single inch of NJ. Yes, VZW is much more expensive than any other wireless provider and has a more limited selection of phones. You get what you pay for. (In terms of service coverage and quality. Verizon's limited handset selection is due to their EXTREMELY high quality standards.)

Let's not forget that neither Vision nor Express Network are 3G. They are 2.5G interim. 1xEV-DO is true 3G, as is UMTS. (Although so far, EV-DO and EV-DV have had FAR more commercial success than UMTS. Only UMTS rollout so far has been DoCoMo, which was a flop. Meanwhile, KDDI rolled out EV-DO or DV with great success, and Korea also has one of the two.)