Mobile Broadbroad Reviews

It's been 2 long years since I updated this blog and here's why. I've completely built out everything you need to know before, during and after mobile broadband at the relaunched Mobile Broadband Reviews.

From the MBR Buyer's Guide to reviews on every postpaid, prepaid and mobile broadband rental provider out there, the whole she-bang is there. Be sure to subscribe over there so you don't miss a thing.

To Your Success,
Marc
Uncomplicating Mobile Internet
www.mobile-broadband-reviews.com

Updates

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

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

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

via Consumerist

Get $90 or $35 from Sprint ETF Settlement

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

"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]

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

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]

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