Wireless Internet Reviews
Verizon BroadbandAccess Mobile Broadband Service
Overview
Serving over 80 million customers, thanks to a recent merger with regional carrier Alltel, Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless provider in the United States.
Founded in 2000, Verizon Wireless is based in Basking Ridge, NJ and is a joint venture between Verizon Communications and the Vodafone Group and employs about 69,000 people.
Pros: The Verizon BroadbandAccess plans are simple and have a large coverage area in the United States. Their plans are competitively priced, have great speeds and they have a wide range of available modems. their international roaming is also a plus.
Cons: You can't get the Verizon BroadbandAccess service without committing to a two year contract and still have to pay an activation fee even with that length of commitment for the wireless internet service.
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Detailed Provider Information
Plans: Verizon Wireless offers 2 mobile broadband plans under the name BroadbandAccess. The first plan is called BroadbandAccess 250MB and offers you 250 megabytes of data transfer per month for $39.99. The second plan available is called BroadbandAccess 5GB and offers you five gigabytes of data transfer per month for $59.99 per month. Any usage over the amount allotted in your plan will be charged at 25 cents per megabyte.
There is a third option now available which is listed as a "Day Pass". For $15 you can get 24 hours of access to the Verizon network. This is only available to customers with USB modems or ExpressCard modems installed.
Customer Service: Customer service for Verizon BroadbandAccess is available via email, online chat, at any retail location and by toll free number Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST.
Credit Check: Yes
Contract: Yes, there is a minimum of a one year contract requirement for mobile broadband plans.
Payment Options: Payments can be made online via the Verizon Wireless website, by phone, by postal mail or at retail locations. Payment is accepted in the form of credit card, check, money order, cash or debit.
Bandwidth Restrictions: Speeds average from download speeds of 600kbps to 1.4 mbps and upload speeds range from 500 kbps to 800 kbps.
Activation Fee: There is an activation fee of $35.00 to begin getting Verizon wireless internet service.
Cancellation Fee: The maximum cancellation fee for discontinuing your Verizon BroadbandAccess while still under contract is $175.00, though the fee will be lower the further into the contract you are. Verizon deducts five dollars from the cancellation fee for every month of paid service you've completed during the contract period.
Roaming Charges: The Verizon BroadbandAccess service allows for no domestic roaming within the United States. They do however allow various types of international roaming, but most require you to add the I-Dial service to your account to be able to do so. International roaming is charged at various rates and is allowed in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, China, India, Israel and a few other locations. Rates change frequently and you should check with customer service before roaming to the destination of your choice.
Modems and PC Cards: Verizon Wireless offers various PC cards and USB key modems ranging in price from $0.00 to $129.99 (with online discounts applying to most), but you should note that all modem pricing is dependent upon a 2 year contract for BroadbandAccess service.
Some of the Available Modems and PC Cards are listed below:
UM1175 USB Modem
Verizon PC770 2 in 1 ExpressCard
Verizon Wireless V740 ExpressCard
Verizon Wireless USB1000 Global Modem (shown)
Coverage Map: Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess Coverage Map
TConnWent with Verizon as they have the biggest 3G network. Great speeds most places I take the laptop. At as good as home connection but it allows me to go work out of the home which is great on a sunny day.
henryProbably the best mobile broadband I've tried. But come on, Activation fees, 2 year contracts and Verizon's reputation for customer service?
PerryBHappy with this. Got the USB727 modem nice and small and a good price with the contract. Only had service drop a couple of times but always get good speeds.
Jim TWent with Alltel because of unlimited access with wireless modem for 60 ucks a month. Do not like the 5 gbs limited.
JoeContinuous service drops and extremely slow download speeds. Not worth the 65 dollars a month fee w/taxes.
MikeWell, I've was a happy verizon bb customer for 4 years, but all of a sudden the card always shows that it's roaming -- which means big charges to use it. I've tried reinstalling, etc. I may have to switch to another service.... Verizon has somehow broken theirs.
Vernon ETop Notch Service And equipment but if you go over the 5GB limit you will pay BIG TIME !!! No Netflix on this card !!
LynnI went with Verizon because I already have their Cell phone.
I used mine while traveling. I am a heavy user the 5GB was not enough the cost for the overage was totally ridiculous!
Other than that I thought is was the best, I never had any problems with it as we traveled. I had to cancels due to astronomical overtures. Canceling was cheeper than the cost of the plan.
BILLWORSE SERVICE IN THE INDUSTRY, DROPS MY WIRELESS CONNECTION 10 TO 20 TIMES A DAY. LOOKING FOR A NEW PROVIDER, IM DONE WITH VERIZON
RosanneOne star is one too many....Company gets an F for customer service,and I called CEO Seidenberg's office directly: 212-395-1060. 1st aircard never connected properly, they had no replacement, so I they foisted an upgrade on me with(you guess it) 2 more years tacked on. Pay as you go plan was NEVER mentioned as an option. All in all, I would NOT use them again. Now using Virgin phone and love it. Verizon dropped my calls out-of-state, and used up the entire charge when I was on either coast.
SarahAwful. For the first year of my contract service was slow, but tolerable. The second year has been terrible--continuously dropped and sometimes difficult to connect. Can't wait to get out of this contract.
JustinNothing but problems with verizon broadband, especially on the pc. We switched to macs and that helped. I have not had the chance to try other companies mobile broadband but I am extremely disappointed in verizon's
