Mobile Broadband Blog

Updates

2009-03-24T13:56:00.003-04:00

Hey,

You've probably noticed there haven't been any regular updates for awhile. I haven't lost any interest at all. Rather, I've been busting my butt over at www.mobile-broadband-reviews.com. Pretty soon (within a week), the site will have a completely new look and a bunch of new content.

Here's a snippet of what's coming:

Learn

The Basics

What is an AirCard?
Sprint WiMAX - 5 Things You Should Know
What is Mobile Broadband?
EVDO - 5 Things To Know
Long Term Evolution - 5 Things Everyone Should Know
Can Mobile Broadband replace your Cable or DSL?

Providers

Carrier Reviews

AT&T

2008

2009

Sprint

2008

2009

Verizon

2008

2009

Alltel

2008

2009

T-Mobile

2008

2009

2009 Carrier Comparison (Updated)

Broadband Cards

Alltel

AT&T

Sprint

T-Mobile

Verizon

2009 Broadband Card Comparison (Updated)

Everything You'll Ever Need To Know

E-Course (Updated)

Buy

2009 Buyer's Guide

AirCards: Top 4 Places To Get Them (Updated)

Research

Short Term Solutions

Prepaid Mobile Broadband (no contracts)
Frugal Solutions

International Mobile Broadband
Long Term Solutions

Be sure to check back and you'll see the brand new look.

Internet at 500 MPH? That's Really Mobile Broadband

2009-01-14T16:35:00.000-05:00

United Airlines is now the latest airline to announce in-flight broadband. The provider is Gogo. Pricing looks a bit like this:

Whether on United or the four other U.S airlines Aircell now has agreements with, Gogo costs passengers $9.95 on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours. The Gogo service involves 92 EVDO cell sites aimed ever upward, designed to provide 2Mbps+ connectivity to each Gogo enabled plane that passes overhead. VoIP is banned, though VPN connectivity works.

via DSLReports

Sprint Offers New Sierra Wireless 598U USB Broadband Card

2009-01-12T08:43:00.000-05:00

Sprint & Sierra Wireless throws us another broadband card to play with. Here's the essential info:

EVDO Rev. A (Up to 3.1 Mbps)
USB format with an interesting clip for keeping it out of harm's way (looks a bit cumbersome though)
Smallest broadband card available today
microSD card (up to 32 GB expansion)
Built-in GPS
Supports laptops going into sleep and hibernation (i.e. it'll connect after being woken up)

Unless you've already had a broadband card, the last feature may not matter that much. When your only way of getting online is a broadband card like myself, that becomes really important. It's a nice feature that I hope to see become standard.

via EVDOinfo

Reach Sprint's Retention Department

2009-01-09T10:45:00.000-05:00

via Consumerist

Get $90 or $35 from Sprint ETF Settlement

2009-01-09T09:54:00.000-05:00

A proposed settlement has been reached in the class action lawsuit against Sprint over early termination fees (ETF). It seems to basically apply to anyone who has had a time-based contact with Sprint that had an etf clause it i.e. most Sprint wireless customers. You get $90 if you were charged an ETF and can provide proof, and $35 if you didn't cancel a contract for fear of getting charged an ETF.

via Consumerist

Sony's "Not A Netbook" Features Built-in 3G Mobile Broadband

2009-01-08T09:52:00.000-05:00

"The world's lightest notebook"

"1.4 lbs"

"Fits in a jacket"

"Xcross Media instant-on for web browsing, music, video and photos"

"Turn by turn GPS navigation...no internet required"

"Built-In Mobile Broadband"

Curious yet?

via Sony

Slower EDGE, Faster 3G for AT&T Mobile Broadband Users [Analysis]

2009-01-07T11:37:00.001-05:00

So, the blogosphere has been all the rage about AT&T slowing EDGE to force customers to switch to 3G. If it is true that they've been slowing EDGE to dedicate more bandwidth to 3G users, it's a double-edged sword for mobile broadband/3G users.

Let's say you've got your snazzy new AT&T Quicksilver USB Connect. You decided to take the plunge after Bill Kurtis wooed you with his numerous commercials AT&T 3G commercials (like the below).

You hear "the internet can't hide anymore". Sounds good right? If only that were actually true.

Try telling that line to the iPhone users experiencing data outages. What's worse is that it's not the first, second or third time either. Apparently, the internet can hide...at least from AT&T mobile broadband users. Strangely enough, there's been no word of this happening with Verizon or Sprint. Then again, they do rank #1 & #2 for mobile broadband.

Outside of that, another interesting point comes to light. Do AT&T users want to sacrifice EDGE speeds for 3G? Let's say your traveling outside of the major markets that AT&T has 3G, you're gonna be using the EDGE network. That means slower speeds in a lot of places. Heavens forbid the EDGE network starts feeling like 1xRTT dialup speeds. Just sever my fingers so I can't type on my keyboard instead.

The only conclusion one can come to from all of this is this:

Those 3G network upgrades in preparation for the iPhone weren't enough. Perhaps market demand for the service was inadequately anticipated or they knew but sold the phones anyway (beware the FCC if that's the case AT&T). One thing's for sure though.

AT&T is not the mobile broadband carrier of choice right now.

Perhaps they need to follow in Verizon's footsteps and step up the launch of LTE for those sexy 16-25 Mbps download speeds. If they don't, Sprint and Clearwire are gonna eat their lunch with their WiMAX network.

WiMAX to launch officially in Portland, Oregon

2009-01-06T07:34:00.002-05:00

Clearwire, the wireless broadband company that has merged with Sprint's Xohm to provide WiMAX, is set to launch its first city under the Clear brand today (Jan.6.08).

Here's a breakdown of the regular featured mobile plans according to Clear's site.

$10/day - 24 hour pass
$30/month - Occasional (200 MB/month)
$40/month - Frequent (2 GB/month)
$50/month - Unlimited monthly usage

Home plans look like this:

$20/month - Basic plan (768 Kbps downloading)
$30/month - Fast plan (3 Mbps downloading)
$40/month - Faster plan (6 Mbps downloading)

(oh, they've got cool business plans too)

Sign me up for unlimited mobile please. Did I mention that there's no contract? (you can sign up for one for a discount though). At $10 cheaper than 3G service, plus 4 Mbps download speeds? I'm game. Only downside is that upload speed is 384 Kbps. I think they could do better.

It is interesting to note that the difference between the home plans and mobile plans (besides price) is speed versus capacity. They cap the speed of the home plans but choose to cap the amount of data one can download on the mobile plans. It seems as though they are modeling them not based on their network capacity but in a way that consumers can compare them to what they already have.

Translation: Mobile plans are targeted to existing (and new) mobile broadband/WiFi customers while home plans are targeted to DSL/Cable subscribers. Expect some form of mobile/home bundle for sure (just as AT&T does with its services).

Somehow $20 seems very attractive compared to the $30 or $40 DSL carriers like to charge. Let's see how this all pans out...now if they can just get this stuff nationwide.

via PCWorld

T-Mobile's First 3G USB Broadband Card [FCC]

2009-01-05T08:16:00.002-05:00

At long last, T-Mobile will have a 3G modem. As we mentioned before, the entry of T-Mobile this late into the 3G marketplace will mean many subscribers being 'stolen' away by cheaper mobile broadband plans. Just think, at $50 for 3G for $60, who wouldn't? I know I would.

The new Huawei UMG 181 USB Mobile Broadband can rotate and will support 8 bands GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA/HSDPA/HSUPA in 850, 1900, 1700 and 2100.

That's a lot of bands. Can anyone say roaming agreements?
via CellPhoneSignal

Verizon 4G Wireless Broadband (LTE) Rollout in 4Q of 2009

2009-01-04T09:35:00.000-05:00

Verizon might be shifting up plans to get the jump on the competition. It may start deploying Long Term Evolution as early as the end of the year.What does that mean for you?

Average speeds of 16-25 Mbps ...wirelessly. Sexy. Just downright sexy.

via Boy Genius Report

AT&T 3G Enabled Laptop for $99

2009-01-04T09:26:00.001-05:00

Yesterday it was a rumor and today it’s official. RadioShack is now offering the AT&T (NYSE: T) 3G-enabled Acer Aspire One netbook in 4,400 of its stores. The $99 offer is valid through December 24th, and requires qualifying two-year AT&T DataConnect mobile broadband service agreement with plans starting at $60 a month.

If you ever wanted a deal on mobile broadband, here it is.

Verizon To Complete Alltel Merger By Month's End

2009-01-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

Finally, they're gonna pull it off. Subscribe to the blog to get the word first on any changes they make and how it'll affect their mobile broadband networks.

The Psychology of Mobile Broadband Businesses

2009-01-02T09:35:00.007-05:00

As per my usual routine, I found my self thumbing through Google Reader (my digital NYTimes) checking out what's buzzing in the world of mobile broadband and technology.

63 unread items later, I find a well written analysis article: What's Lighting The Fire Under Mobile Broadband?

It takes a look at the driving factors behind mobile broadband in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, The United States and Canada. Besides the regular stuff that we're very aware of (iPhone and G1 leading to more media consumption on advanced apps like video/music), it touches on the Psychology of Mobile Broadband Businesses.

As a result of carrier pricing strategies, roughly four out of five mobile broadband users access services via a mobile or a smartphone. The rest use a PC air card or a USB modem.

PC users tend to consume more traffic and subscribe to higher service tiers. They generate on average over a gigabyte of traffic per month, whereas phone users generate less than 500 megabytes. Carriers like higher-tier subscribers. They pay higher rates but for the most part do not consume enough data yet to overwhelm the network.

In other words, while you sleep at night they're hoping users avoid bandwidth sucking activities like P2P clients (Bittorrent, Limewire, etc), streaming HD video on YouTube or Vimeo, and streaming music all day via Pandora. You'd better believe the network would crash if everyone wanted to download the Dark Knight in High Definition.

There's a particular fallacy in this line of thinking. It lacks foresight. The marketplace is rapidly evolving into a culture that not just wants but expects to access the aforementioned services. "Build it and they will come" if you may. The quality of content and convenience that streamed HD video and 128 Kbps streamed music provides is quickly becoming the norm. Mobile broadband providers will seriously be up the creek if they don't think about their normal customer's ever increasing rate of consumption.

They'll eventually have to pump the brakes on the 5 Gigabyte cap model that's become a wee bit too popular in the United States. Either it'll have to change or they'll have to do away with broadband cards.

You can't give someone a Ferrari and only half a football field to drive it on.

You hit the limit too quickly. That's what we're approaching in the world of broadband cards and mobile broadband. In a world going for Long Term Evolution (i.e. 16-25 Mbps on average) as its 4G technology of choice, there's simply no other way. But of course, just like the music industry trying to work the outdated business model of CD and albums, mobile broadband companies will milk this cow dry.

Here's another fresh insight:

Sprint's (NYSE: S) Xohm mobile WiMax solution and T-Mobile's 3G initiatives may alter the market dynamics in the next three to five years. If successful, Sprint's solution will steer consumers toward heavier, PC-based use and condition them to expect higher speeds, which will push incumbent carriers to offer the same.

Meanwhile, as a market latecomer, T-Mobile is likely to offer lower-priced data plans to grab market share from incumbent players. If either of these carriers is successful, their offerings will condition consumers to demand faster, more reliable service at a lower price.

It is likely, however, that both carriers will stop short of encouraging consumer uses aimed at replacing fixed for mobile broadband. For Sprint, replacement would jeopardize its relationship with its cable partners offering fixed-line broadband. For T-Mobile, a replacement strategy for mobile broadband will overwhelm its networks.

He hit the nail on the head with this one. While one would think 100% market penetration (aka monopoly) is what every business aims for, it would lead to the demise of most. Competition and variety is just about a requirement for not just survival in business, its needed for the survival of humans. It's how we test ourselves and become better.

For the full details check out What's Lighting The Fire Under Mobile Broadband?.

If you enjoyed this post, you'll probably enjoy my free E-Course "Wireless Broadband Exposed". It's like your mobile broadband pre-marital counselor and prenuptial agreement all in one. It'll save you from any future heartache and checkbook punches that might come your way.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T00:11:00.000-05:00

WiMAX looks better than FiOS, Cable, DSL and 3G networks

2008-12-31T09:22:00.002-05:00

The year's just about over and everyone's making their predictions and resolutions for 2009. Naturally, you've also got those who reflect on the events of the past year. GigaOM made an interesting list called "10 Stories That Define Broadband in 2008". It's a good list that mobile broadband makes frequent appearances on. What really stuck out to me was this lil chart showing the popularity of WiMAX:

As you can see, North America has the 2nd to least amount of commercial WiMAX networks in the world. If you take a step back and glance around a bit, you'll also notice that the United States has fallen from the #4 spot for broadband penetration to #24 in the world.

Umm...That's huge.

What does it all mean though? If you hit the zoom out button on Google Earth a bit more, you'll see that you're looking at a nation that's neglected to keep pace with the world not just in broadband infrastructure, but infrastructure period. Who's to blame? Hmm, a war that costs 1.2 trillion maybe. But then again, sometimes we need a little help in understanding what 1.2 trillion dollars could buy.

Is there hope?

In one word, yes.

President-Elect Barack Obama is exploring just about everything that could work to turn this around. Among the solutions is a stimulus package of sorts for broadband providers. Naturally, they're lined up to get it. The only problem here is that their self-serving tendency vs. providing the actual consumer with fair service.

Now if we could just agree on what broadband actually is , maybe we can get somewhere.

Here's my take:

WiMAX is looking the most promising of all broadband (and mobile broadband) prospects that are available. While it's not as fast as Verizon FiOS service, it's decent, allows for mobility, and for the time being claims to be unlimited without major restrictions on what you can do with it.

If Sprint & Clearwire can pull off a nationwide network, continue to increase capacity and speed, while keeping restrictions down to a minimum then we'll see net innovations grow. Yes, P2P usage will rise, but just as how the music industry must embrace mp3 and do away with their CD/album model, media moguls of all kinds must adapt to the changing landscape.

More power to net neutrality in 2009.

Unlimited Internet for Businesses, $75 via WiMAX [Xohm]

2008-12-30T16:54:00.001-05:00

Xohm aka WiMAX aka Clearwire & Sprint's 4G service is gonna offer businesses unlimited use with download speeds of 6 Mbps and uploads of 1 Mbps for $75.

I'd pay it.

via MuniWireless

Cancel Sprint without $200 fee [ETF]

2008-12-29T13:42:00.000-05:00

BGR put an alert out:

"Subscribers are free to exit based on Sprint’s decision to raise their non-government mandated administrative fee from $.50-.$75."

It comes into effect January 1st 2009. In other words, you've got 2 days. If you're not sure how to go about it, you need to sign up today for the free E-Course "Wireless Broadband Exposed". The 2nd lesson covers how to get out of contracts.

Because it's a lesson a day, you'd get lesson 1 today and lesson 2 tomorrow. Who wants to pay $200 to cut ties with a carrier anyway? Hop to it my friend.

Happy New Year!

Verizon Leaves AT&T in the dust of Phoenix, Arizona

2008-12-27T11:22:00.000-05:00

Kevin over at jkOnTheRun decided to run a quick test. Verizon's EVDO vs. AT&T's HSDPA. The no holds barred brawl took place in the dusty sands of Phoenix, Arizona (more like in his air-conditioned hotel room actually).

The mighty warriors who stepped forward were Verizon's USB727 and AT&T's USB Quicksilver. Not living up to it's name, the Quicksilver lost in downlink, uplink and ping. The USB727 came triumphant with DSL speeds.

via jkOnTheRun

Haters attack Sprint/Clearwire's WiMAX

2008-12-24T14:34:00.000-05:00

Yes. They're haters. Why?

Sprint didn't start working on WiMAX yesterday. They've been pretty public about their decision to pursue WiMAX with major blockades and obstacles along the way for years. All of a sudden when things are finally going off without a hitch,

BAM, a lawsuit that could cost Sprint the $3 million to $5 million it spent to build out the network magically appears. If someone steals your stuff...and you see them stealing your stuff...do you wait 2 years to call the police?

Verizon pours $155 million into Florida's network

2008-12-23T07:53:00.000-05:00

More coverage and better redundancy for all 3G fans out there. Seems like more justification as to why they got ranked the #1 mobile broadband carrier this year. Now if only they'd ease up off that 3G cap we could think about replacing our hard wire connections at home. You know, sorta like how 18% of you only have cell phones? Same thing but for internet connections.

via North Florida News Daily

Add this to your Christmas Wishlist

2008-12-22T10:01:00.000-05:00

LG is working on a little thing they like to call Transmissive Reflective LCDs. Just what the heck is that?

Well most laptops are backlit (especially the ever-so-popular glossy screens). Because of that, they work great indoors. As you've probably had the pleasure of noticing, the second some light from a window sneaks in, you can't see a thing.

Reflective LCDs would fix that. They use natural light. Now the whole transmissive reflective thing works inside and out.

Just think! Whizzin around outside with your convertible multi-touch tablet and actually being able to see! Let's face it, if you're using mobile broadband...you're..err...gonna be mobile right?

Add that to my Christmas Wishlist.

Wireless Broadband on Bullet Trains & Buses

2008-12-20T10:02:00.000-05:00

Woke up this morning with the daily routine. Log into Google Reader to answer one ever perplexing ever relevant question:

What's happening?

Sometimes I feel like going all Deepak Chopra with it and ask:

What's really happening?

Well, our friends across the pond who are always getting everything technological before us are getting Wireless Broadband on bullet trains. Convenient stuff eh? ...but wait a minute here. In the sleepy capitol of Florida, we've got WiFi on certain bus routes. I feel so technologically advanced! Thing is, I don't think I'd ever be on a bus to really make any good use of it though. Bus rides don't get too long around these parts.

Well, I suppose it'd be handy if I wanted to use WiFi on my phone instead of 3G. It's faster I suppose.

Guess we're not always so behind huh?

Sprint Launches Dual 3G/4G Modem

2008-12-19T09:40:00.001-05:00

How cool is that?

Hop between 3G and WiMAX at will or automatically. Find the full specs here.

AT&T Tests Higher Speed 3G in Chicago

2008-12-19T09:22:00.000-05:00

AT&T has a pretty good track record of investing in their infrastructure. As we stated earlier this year, they were working on having 7.2 Mbps download speeds. Word has it those tests are currently underway in the windy city.

Perhaps the sexiest part is this:

"Interestingly, though, Siegel did say AT&T Mobility is testing 7.2 megabit per second download speeds in Chicago, adding that those speeds could soon increase to 14.4 Mbps or higher.

That would be just so frickin awesome...if not for the current 5 GB cap on data usage. They're really gonna need to ease up off this thing. It's like you've got a 10 mile stretch of road. You keep getting newer cars that can go faster...only to run out of road even quicker. Do they enjoy watching us race up to these caps they've set faster and faster? Sick game AT&T...sick game indeed...

Fix It.

The Definitive Coast-To-Coast 3G Data Test

2008-12-18T13:56:00.000-05:00

So the guys over at Gizmodo has what they're calling the Definitive Coast-To-Coast 3G Data Test. They compared the networks of Sprint, Verizon and AT&T (T-Mobile's 3G network is too tiny and Alltel got bought out by Verizon).

"The USB dongles we used for testing were typical 3G cards from the carriers: AT&T's Sierra USBConnect 881, Sprint's Sierra Wireless Compass 597 and Verizon Wireless's Novatel USB727

A quick sum-up of the results shows Sprint being the fastest for downloading while AT&T being the fastest for uploading. Guess they'll have to scrap the part of their commercials that keep toting "the fastest 3G network"...coming to think of it, Verizon was kinda doing the same thing too...

Pretty cool to know that they more or less re-confirmed the rankings of the 2008 Wireless Broadband Service Comparison. One time for Sprint doing something right. Despite all the bad press they get, I've got a grandfathered unlimited 3G plan with them that gets excellent speeds.

It's been my primary connection for months and it's going great.

Hope it stays that way.