Wireless Data Plans Reviewed

prostoalex writes "The New York Times Technology section runs a review of available wireless data plans that provide a PCMCIA card for wireless Internet connections. Cingular BroadbandConnect seems to have won the comparison as far as quality, but the service is only available in 16 major metropolitan areas. Sprint Mobile Broadband has wider coverage for $80 a month. Verizon Wireless sells BroadbandAccess for $80 a month or $60 if you decide to commit to a 2-year contract, and this one has the widest coverage of 181 metropolitan areas."

Comments

WAR Driving, Inc.

[Shadow Wrought]

How can we offer free WiFi to so many people? Volume.

Breaking The Terms

[Linux Ate My Dog!]

From the article:

Another option is use-based plans starting at $20 a month with a cap of five megabytes of data and additional charges for transfers above that. In evaluating the Cingular service, I wanted to test how well the connection would hold while mobile; I started the service on a laptop, and using Windows Media Player tuned to a live radio broadcast. I then fastened the laptop to the passenger seat of my car and drove around Austin, Tex., for just under an hour.

From Cingular's TOS for their plans Laptop Connect Unlimited, 80 bucks a month):

Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, using Services: (i) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, without limitation, Web camera posts or broadcasts, continuous jpeg file transfers, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other machine-to-machine applications, (ii) as substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections, (iii) for Voice over IP or (iv) in conjunction with WWAN or other applications or devices which aggregate usage from multiple sources prior to transmission. Unlimited plans cannot be used for uploading, downloading or streaming of video content (e.g. movies, TV), music or games. Furthermore, unlimited plans (except for DataConnect and Blackberry Tethered) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to-computer accessories, Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology) to laptops, PCs, or other equipment for any purpose.

Bolding is mine, but Cingular bolds this whole quote in their document. Meanwhile, I use T-Mobile's dirt cheap 30-bucks-a-month, around 40Kbps 'antiquated' GPRS system to Bluetooth my subnotebook at work to keep IMing, reading mail, downloading simple pages. These data prices seem outrageous to me for services I am formally not supposed to use any more intensively than I am doing with GPRS right now. If I am getting broadband I want to stream my own music down already. Instead I am just supposed to download my spam faster?

My experience

[charstar]

I've had Verizon's service for about a year and am pretty happy with it. They could do A LOT better though.

I orginally had a Novatel V620 PCMCIA card connection to my powerbook, but when I got my Mac Book Pro, it became instantly useless. As of a few months ago, there are no ExpressCard/32 adaptors available for any of the service providers.

The solution I went with was to get a bluetooth cell phone (and voice service ... blah) and use the phone as a modem. Works pretty well, though I wish there was a card for it. Of course the verizon morons at the store don't really know what they are selling, so they also had me buy the stupid USB wire to the phone (that doesn't even charge the battery!) that doesn't because, according to them, you can't share the data connection over bluetooth (but you can!).

So ya, overall i'm happy with it because it works. I'm surprised that i usually have a latency of under 500ms. I can play World of Warcraft from pretty much anywhere =)