Wireless Internet Reviews

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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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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One of the most difficult aspects of launching a 4G network is the transition. How does a carrier get its customers, already equipped with 3G devices, to sign up for 4G plans? Sprint thinks it has the answer. They’ve been releasing hybrid devices that can capture both 3G and 4G signal. This not only opens up 4G for more customers, but it allows customers in 3G markets to prepare for a 4G upgrade. Their latest, the Overdrive, is more than that. It’s a mobile hotspot, much like the MiFi that Verizon launched earlier this year. The device can send a 3G or 4G signal to up to five devices. It requires a contract, though — a two-year commitment to a service plan of $59, plus $99 for the device after a $50 mail-in rebate. It will be available January 10.

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When shopping for a 3G mobile broadband package, consumers should expect two things: high prices, low caps. It’s not an ideal scenario, but it’s the situation we’re stuck with. That’s why we view the new DataJack mobile broadband plans with a twinge of skepticism. The company will launch the service at CES with an initial price of $39.99 per month, or about $20 less than the big carriers. While that by itself might be conceivable, the further details are not. There is no usage cap, and it doesn’t require a contract. So how is DataJack going to get away with this?

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Every price decrease has to start somewhere. For mobile broadband, it might have started with T-Mobile. The last major U.S. carrier to offer mobile broadband services, T-Mobile stuck with the industry-wide cap of 5GB, but undercut its competitors by $10 per month, offering theirs at $50. They’re officially the cheapest of the Big Four now, and when one company lowers its price, the rest usually follow. So why haven’t we seen AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint knocking down their $60 monthly plans? Because T-Mobile, in terms of 3G, isn’t yet on the same level.

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One of the biggest stories in the cellular world over the past few weeks is the spat between Verizon Wireless and AT&T. It started when Verizon ran ads mocking AT&T’s 3G coverage, noting that they cover much, much more of the country with 3G than AT&T. The two sides argued, with AT&T eventually filing suit against Verizon. In question is the definition of 3G coverage. Technically, by the accepted definition of 3G, Verizon did not lie in their ads. The truth, however, is not as clear cut.

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