Mobile Broadband

[tibsbeatall]

Well i have a laptop and am sick and tired of looking for "hotspots" to use my Wi-fi.
I heard that Verizon and Sprint have these PC cards that u attach that allow you to have mobile broadband.

Something like this http://powervision.sprint.com/mobilebroadband/

What i want to know is how fast are they compared to Cable. Of course the speed and rate of Download will be variable as to where u are and how much signal u have, but i want to know the average.

Also, how exactly does it work? Does my cellphone need to be nearby? Is it completely unrelated to my cellphone? What can i do using this service?

Can i download music? Can i download movies? Or is that not allowed using this service.

Also, are there any other mobile broadband options out there besides this phone pc card thingy. Thank you.

 

[skadoo323]

I have used Sprint since I have my personal cell phone service through them but used the phone as model option and the speeds are comprable to a dsl connection. The same goed with Verizon wireless' laptop cards, which I have used through my employer. The speeds mostly vary on factors such as coverage. I have also used Cingular's data card, which is great when out of the country, but around DC/MD, I really hate the card. The speeds have been horrible and it is very unreliable. All of the providers offer some type of software based data compression, but it does not always work well. This is more so a hit or miss depending on the site.

 

[rothchilds]

Sprint just launched REV-A wireless in most major markets. Download speeds of 500-700k, upload speeds up to 200k. Only the aircard is needed, no phone. It works anywhere you get a cell signal. It's a full fledged internet connection by itself.

 

[kindest]

don't forget about tethering if you got a smartphone with sprint.

http://www.junefabrics.com/palmnet/

<---treo 700wx as my cable modem.