Wireless Internet Reviews

Part of the problem with broadband is delivering it to small, rural markets. Wireless, then, might be the solution. Without the need to run millions of dollars worth of cable to a sparsely populated area, carriers can simply deliver the signal through wireless towers. Yet there’s still a problem there, in that small carriers do not own, and likely will not own any time soon, 4G networks. It looks like Verizon might step in and help out. The company is negotiating licensing agreements with small carriers that would enable them to supply their customers with broadband services.

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What’s the point of having a 4G network if it’s not available in all major markets? It means, for the time being at least, creating hybrid devices that function on both 3G and 4G. It has also left handheld devices out of the equation (that is, until the EVO 4G release). Clearwire and Sprint have done a good job of getting their 4G WiMax network set up in certain markets, but still have a long way go to. They’ll continue that expansion this summer, moving into about a dozen new areas during the next few months.

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We’re not too far removed from a time when carriers still advertised unlimited data plans, even though they didn’t really mean it. Verizon came under fire in late 2007 for booting users from its network because they exceeded a 5GB cap about which they were not aware. That led to carriers actually advertising their 5GB caps. Users who exceeded that amount paid an overage charge. T-Mobile has changed that, though. Instead of charging 10 to 20 cents per megabyte for overages, they’ll simply throttle data speeds once users exceed their cap.

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AT&T has experienced plenty of problems with its 3G network. In New York many consumers complain of subpar service, which AT&T has blamed on excessive data usage by iPhone users. Yet the company will now allow iPad users to take advantage of its unlimited data plans as well. While the company doesn’t think it will affect the network much — they believe that most will use faster Wi-Fi connections when browsing the internet — others think that the strain could be greater than expected. As analyst Craig Moffett says, the iPad is “extremely bandwidth-intensive.” If people do choose the 3G route, which would allow them to take advantage of the iPads myriad features in more locations, AT&T could be in for another big crunch.

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The FCC remains confident that its National Broadband plan can succeed in delivering high-speed internet to the masses, but after unveiling their plan they’ve invited the skeptics. Rob Pegoraro of The Washington Post gives his take, and it’s not very optimistic. The plan is slow-moving and relies upon many assumptions. Yet the toughest criticism to answer is the cost of the plan. In order to cobble together spectrum and offer it at a low cost to consumers, the plan needs plenty of funding. Where is this money going to come from? Another issue: the providers. We’ll still be stuck with the same options as today. They might have faster service, which might make people happy, but at what cost? Will consumers bear the burden for this plan? If so, then why not let private entities take care of it? These are all questions that the FCC will answer as they implement their plan. The first phase is due in five years, though, so they’ll have plenty of time to think on it.

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Over the past few weeks and months we’ve heard plenty about the Federal Communications Commission, headed by Chairman Julius Genachowski, and their plan to provide free wireless broadband to the entire country, especially the 35 percent who currently lack it. The goal is to get 90 percent of the population covered, using partnerships with entities both private and public. The plan sounds aggressive, and it represents an idealistic vision. But we’ve seen many plans like this die before. Will the National Broadband fall victim to a difficult bureaucratic process?

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Mass transit has never experienced mass appeal in the U.S., but with Wi-Fi networks gaining traction that might change. If people can get work done while commuting or traveling, perhaps they’ll choose to take the train instead of driving. We’ve seen services like this, most notably on the Bolt Bus. The latest on the bandwagon is Amtrak, which will install Wi-Fi on its Northeast Corridor trains. This includes its 20 high-speed Acela Express trains, which hit major East Coast destinations like Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston among others. Wi-Fi will be free during a trial period, after which Amtrak will review and see if charging might work better. The cheaper the Wi-Fi, though, the greater advantage the company will see from it.

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Which of the major mobile provides has the fastest transfer speeds? We’ve seen a number of attempts to nail this down, and it seems that each time we get a different answer. A Gizmodo survey said Sprint. Another said AT&T. So which is it? PC World got into the game, and has found that AT&T is the fastest. This isn’t by any insignificant margin, either. Their average download speed is 60 percent faster than the next closest competitor, Verizon, and the average upload speed is 78 percent faster

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We’ve seen a number of 3G routers released over the past year or so, mostly tied to specific carriers. This latest one, from NETGEAR and Ericsson, could be among the best. It combines an internal 3G radio with a traditional wireless router to provide customers with a primary or backup option for their Internet needs. After the jump, we’ll touch on some of the specifics.

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