We’ve raved on Sprint’s EV-DO data service more than once, in no small part because they were the only carrier to have truly unlimited 3G data, while AT&T and Verizon capped their service at 5GB. Our love affair just might be over. According to a leaked update of their terms of service, effective July 31st, they’ll be enacting a 5GB cap as well.
Computerworld took Verizon, Sprint and AT&T’s 3G data services for a spin all around the tri-state area—500 points in NY, NJ and CT—with data cards from everyone and an X300 to determine the king of 3G. Surprisingly (or maybe not), AT&T was the snappiest of the bunch in both average (755Kbps) and top data speeds (1.6Mbps). Of course, there’s more to consider: As we’ve said, only Sprint gives you unlimited data freedom; Verizon and AT&T have 5GB caps (they’re squishy, but they’re there). Also, EV-DO has a bit wider coverage area. But if you’re mostly roaming around the NYC area, it looks like AT&T might be the new go-to, especially if speed is your main concern. [ComputerWorld]
newVideoPlayer("instinctiphone1_giz.flv", 463, 287,""); Starting May 9th, Sprint will begin a massive, US$100 million marketing campaign aimed straight at the iPhone’s nether regions. Stacking its 3G Instinct against the iPhone, Sprint hopes to show that EVDO and GPS make their product way better than anything coming out of Cupertino.
We just got the official press release on the Amazon Kindle, and it delivers the good news that the Whispernet EV-DO service that lets you surf the web, check your email, and download e-books is totally free. On the flip side, it looks like they’ll be charging per-blog for the RSS reader, with “Wireless delivery of blogs [costing]as little as $0.99 each per month.” Uh, what? Oh, and emails with attachments will be $0.10 each to send. Wilson is currently at the launch event seeing if any new info will drop and to hopefully get some clarification on the blog thing, but you can already order your Kindle now for $399. Check the rest of the presser after the hop.
HP and Sprint are adding built-in EV-DO Rev. A support to four of HP’s Compaq notebooks, the 2710p, the 6510b, the 6910p and the 8510 series. The press release says integrated support, and we’ve checked with HP and confirmed that it really is integrated EV-DO support inside the laptops and not just a bundled EV-DO card. You’ll still have to pay a Sprint Mobile Broadband service charge though—no freebies here. [Businesswire]
Verizon has announced, for immediate availability, the UM150 USB modem. The modem will allow mobile broadband access, with support for Mac OS X and Windows (Vista, XP and 2000). The download speeds will hit a maximum of 600kbps-1.4mbps, with upload speeds ranging from 500kbps-800kbp and the connection will rely on Verizon’s EVDO Rev. A network.
You never know when you might want to spread your connectivity love, and that’s why this Cradlepoint CTR-350 travel router might be able to keep you and all your buddies online when nothing else will. If your broadband-enabled cellphone can connect, then this little black box can turn that connection into a Wi-Fi hotspot.
This baby lets your EV-DO cellphone turn into a modem for Wi-Fi, letting everybody tap into that signal. Plus, you can button that sucker down to be as secure as you want, using WEP and WPA encryption and its built-in firewall. And, if your phone supports charging-via-USB, it’ll charge up that cellphone as you go. It’s $149. [Cradlepoint]
Sharing a 3G connection via a wireless router is nothing new, but in the past it has required a bland, sterile box built to look like a WiFi access point. That certainly isn’t the case with Top Global’s Phoebus, which draws its engineering innovation from the greatest engineers of all, the ancient pharaohs. Though you won’t find many precious goodies buried in this little Luxor, you will find an 802.11b/g router that will share your standard 3G card (EV-DO, EDGE, etc.) with your neighbors. If internet access is scarce and your crew needs to hit MySpace in a hurry, drop your pyramid on the table and have at it. $289 is a small price to pay for something inspired by real slave labor construction. [3G Phoebus Wireless Router via Technabob]
Take that, AT&T! Take that, EDGE! Take that Jobs, and anyone else who wears black mock turtlenecks! Everywhere in Verizon’s current EV-DO network, downloads are jumping from 600kbps to 1.4Mbps, with uploads cruising around 500kbps and 800kbps. That’s only 8 seconds to download a 1MB file. Or more scientifically, quite fast.
Verizon Wireless: 100 Percent… [prnewswire]
Mac addicts: have you been itching to get your mobile Mac Mini going with EV-DO, but despise the look of an external USB modem? Well, with a little bit of tinkering you can swap out your Airport card with an Expidite PCI Express Mini EV-DO Card.