Mobile broadband
is an Internet access option that enables you to gain wireless access nationwide without the need of a router. With the use of a mobile broadband card you receive Internet signals through a cellular phone network. This service enables you to travel nationwide and receive an Internet signal wherever data coverage is available.
Mobile broadband is quickly becoming a strong Internet option nationwide. With three main contract-based providers and one no-contract service available, the choice may be daunting. This article will help you completely satisfy your mobile broadband needs by assessing the pros and cons of each service provider .
Each service provider may fit consumers differently depending on the network coverage, network speed, price of the service and current cellular service provider.
Instructions
Mobile Broadband and What Service Fits You Best
1. The big three cellular companies in the United States offer nationwide access: AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. Comparing the three companies and finding the correct solution as a consumer can be simplified using a few main comparison points: coverage area, speed, price, and whether your current cellular service is a provider of broadband Internet.
2. When comparing the three main service providers, one must first look at coverage areas. Each carrier does not provide coverage equally, therefore you must first analyze where in the United States you will more than likely need Internet access. Using your home as a start, map out the most commonly frequented areas where you will most likely need Internet access. After you determine these areas, proceed to each carrier's website (www.wireless.att.com, www.sprint.com, www.verizonwireless.com) and use the data coverage maps and determine if those areas are indeed covered by the service provider.
3. The second comparison you must balance is the Internet speed that is offered by the wireless carrier. Each of the main three have very similar data speeds available. While normally each carrier will provide on average 400 to 700 kbps download speeds, Sprint states their data can achieve bursts of up to 2Mbps, AT&T claims download bursts of up to 1.7Mbps and Verizon claims bursts of up to 1.4Mbps.
These speeds do vary depending on the area and strength of the data signal. In most metropolitan areas the data speeds will be able to achieve the higher rate download speeds. When in a suburban or rural area, you are likely to achieve only the average or below average download speeds. Since coverage area directly affects speed, it is most important to first determine the coverage area before comparing data speeds.
4. To many consumers the most important aspect of mobile broadband tends to be the price of the service. The price of the service can and will direct your decision to purchase and use the service. Each provider has similar service options with almost identical price points.
AT&T, Sprint and Verizon each offer a service option that gives the consumer a 5GB cap. This means that you are limited to uploading and downloading only 5GB of information for a month. This offer costs the same on all three carriers at $59.99 per month plus tax. This plan is the preferred choice of the carriers for each user. Due to the fact that the price is exactly the same for each carrier, this should be one of the last factors in comparing the carriers.
Recently both AT&T and Verizon Wireless have offered customers a mobile broadband service for $39.99 per month plus tax. Verizon's lower broadband offer provides for 250MB of data usage while AT&T's option gives you 200MB of data usage per month. This lesser priced service is aimed at consumers who do not access the Internet everyday for hours on length. This service is aimed at a consumer who signs onto the Internet to do minimal web surfing and email access.
Be careful because if you do go over your data limits, the extra charge is based on MB. From five cents per MB to twenty cents per MB, each carrier charges different rates on overages. Therefore, it is in your best interest to monitor your usage monthly in an effort to avoid overage charges.
5. The final and much less important step in deciding which mobile broadband service to choose involves your current cellular service. If you already have service through Verizon, Sprint or AT&T, it could be beneficial for you to choose that same carrier for broadband. When you choose mobile broadband with the same carrier as your cellular phone, both your phone and broadband service will be billed together. This allows you to make one payment for both cellular and broadband use.
Recently Sprint has bundled together their mobile broadband and Simply Everything plan together. If you have the Simply Everything plan and decides to also use Sprint mobile broadband, they will be bundled together for $149.99. This is a total savings of ten dollars a month. In the long term this will save you $240.00 over the two-year commitment.
All three carriers provide for two-year commitments. If you choose a shorter commitment, Sprint is the only carrier at the moment that provides for a one-year term. If you choose this one-year term, however, your service will increase to $79.99 per month.
Tags: mobile broadband, service provider, broadband service, cellular service, coverage area, current cellular
