EVDO: Internet access without boundaries

[moki]

I just recently signed up for EVDO cellular wireless Internet service. I've been traveling quite a bit on business lately, and the hotel fees for Internet access and T-mobile hot spot account access fees add up rapidly.

Enter EVDO. Just plug in a PC card into your latptop, and then on Windows install some software (on the Mac, there is no need for additional software). And away you go.

You'll get broadband-access to the Internet anywhere you can pick up a cell phone signal for a flat $59 a month rate, unlimited data usage. They have high speed coverage (EVDO) in most major cities, and even when you're out in the boonies, you'll get data access but not at broadband speeds.

Cingular offers a similar service, but with a different protocol (HSDPA)... and even though I use them for my cell phone service, their high speed cellular broadband coverage is not nearly as good as Verizon's. Verizon has high speed coverage in 190+ cities, Cingular in only 16 (but both have lower speed data coverage that spans everywhere in the continental USA except for places like Paducah ).

Useful site: http://evdomaps.com/

So if you're a road warrior sick of having to scramble for Internet access, and sick of paying hotel/hot-spot fees, I can highly recommend signing up for EVDO.

 

[boonedoggle]

nice find! I don't travel enough to do this, but that does sound like a good deal

 

[moki]

If you're signing up now, make sure you get an EVDO Rev. A card if you go with Verizon/Sprint/t-mobile (or HSDPA for Cingular). If you already have Verizon service, adding this high speed data connection is less than the $59/month I'm paying (I think it's around an additional $40 a month).

Verizon advertises 400-500kb/s for upload/download speeds in areas with EVDO coverage. I did a download test from my office servers in New York while out in San Francisco, and I was getting a very acceptable 150KB/sec download.

It's a very snappy service, I don't notice a difference in speed between my wireless setup at home and using EVDO on the road.

Definitely recommended.

 

[NullSmurf]

Had to add the Mac comment, didncha?

 

[grateful1]

I'm waiting for Verizon to have more Wi-Fi phones. As much as the EVDO is great for workers....I'm waiting for a good WiFi enabled phone, as most location I travel have free Wifi.

Great info, though!

 

[Ludwig]

I am not a huge CDMA fan, but agree highspeed coverage on CDMA nets is more widespread.

I use a Treo, and at times connect it to my laptop, no major downloading though.

In Baltimore, MD I get 900kbps which is smoking fast @ $20 a month. LOVE IT!!!!

 

[moki]

I'm waiting for Verizon to have more Wi-Fi phones. As much as the EVDO is great for workers....I'm waiting for a good WiFi enabled phone, as most location I travel have free Wifi.

June 29th is coming soon...

 

[Ludwig]

I'm waiting for Verizon to have more Wi-Fi phones. As much as the EVDO is great for workers....I'm waiting for a good WiFi enabled phone, as most location I travel have free Wifi.

June 29th is coming soon...

I will probally wait for the 2nd gen. Is the SDK still going to be released to allow you to write widgets and what not?

 

[moki]

I will probally wait for the 2nd gen. Is the SDK still going to be released to allow you to write widgets and what not?

Waiting for 2.0 on anything is a wise idea. It'll be interesting to see how it goes over; the lack of EVDO is a major oversight, IMHO. Still, I do know that Apple has invested massively in the iPhone, to ensure that they get it as "right" as possible on the first release.

They know that with all of the hype, if the first release is a flop, it'll be something the brand "iPhone" will never recover from.

As for the SDK, one isn't even really needed, but I'm sure we'll get one at some point.