Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless, Internet
The End of the Week of EVDO
I just dropped the EVDO card from EVDOinfo into the local FedEx box. Bye-bye high-speed internet everywhere! I will miss you.
Here are my previous posts from the week of testing EVDO: one, two, three, four, and five. So what is my end verdict? I think EVDO is great. Its achilles heel is the upload speeds combined with the price. $80 a month with all the WiFi spots spread around doesn't make sense. If it was in the $30 to $40 a month range, I'd buy into it immediately, even with the upload speed problems, but it's not. So for now, I'm going to wait until the next great wireless everywhere solution comes out with higher upload speeds and a lower price. If my situation were different however, and I were traveling all the time, I think EVDO would be a must have.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
phi said 3:51PM on 10-10-2005
if you swapped out your RAZR for an EDGE capable phone (class 10 is recommended) you'd probably get a little nice speedbump.
I'm on T-mobile and got a at&t/cingular nokia 6620 and unlocked it. Series 60 goodness and faster than GPRS speeds all for 20 bucks a month.
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Mike said 4:08PM on 10-10-2005
He's not using his RAZR for EDGE access, he's using a PC card with an EDGE radio plugged directly into his Powerbook.
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bob weber said 4:25PM on 10-10-2005
the monthy verizon is 59 not 80
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iFelix said 3:32PM on 10-11-2005
In the UK prices for 3G (EVDO) vary on how much data you download. With Vodafone you can get unlimited (read approx 1GB) monthly for just 45 (read $65).
You can also use the same account to charge wireless hotspot access as well such as BT OpenZone.
The main issue I have is coverage with 3G coverage being quite poor and patchy over the UK, but it is nice have broadband access in the park.
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phi said 4:50PM on 10-10-2005
Mike,
I coulda swore I saw him say he tethers his powerbook to his RAZR via bluetooth.
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iFelix said 5:16AM on 10-12-2005
Phi
He might well connect his RAZR via Bluetooth (for syncing not GPRS), but that doesn't stop him from also using an EVDO PC Card as well at the same time.
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Yoman said 5:00PM on 10-10-2005
Verizon EVDO is only $59 a month if you maintain a regular wireless phone with them concurrently. Without a wireless phone on the plan, it is $80 monthly.
I believe it is priced way too high. Sure, it might be convenient but we have hundreds of free wifi hotspots in Portland, OR - so why pay $60 or $80 a month for a little extra roaming?
Verizon, knock $20 off and you have a customer in me. $40 with standard wireless concurrently and $60 without standard wireless concurrently. That is the price that this becomes cost effective.
Hopefully Sprint will get their service to more markets and provide some competition.
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iFelix said 5:15PM on 10-10-2005
Competition certainly helps bring prices down.
When Vodafone started their 3G service they were the only players in the UK market.
For the 1GB/month they initially charged 100 per month, this quickly dropped to 75 per month and is now only 45 per month, just a year later.
As more people sign up, I expect the prices to drop even more...
Eventually Vodafone may be able to get some return on the huge amount of cash they paid for their 3G licence.
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EVDO Guy said 9:38PM on 10-10-2005
Hello, We thought you did an excellent job reviewing EVDO over the last week and we had no idea that when we sent it to you for the 7 day eval, that your daily reviews would be so detailed, honest and accurate. You did hit the nail on the hear, for some, the upload speed MAY be an issue. For most, it is not. I think the pricing is not currently priced for everyone. It is for business travelers and those who *always* need to be connected ALL the time. As time goes on, the price will drop, and it will drop without requiring a mobile phone line like you do now.
For those reading and salivating over having wireless internet anywhere you bring your PowerBook (or PC laptop too), we can help you. We are an authorized Verizon & Sprint agent and can usually get your cards and service overnight.
So, thanks again and great review(s).
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EVDO Guy said 9:41PM on 10-10-2005
BTW, EVDO is currently called "EVDO Rev 0", the next revision will increase the download speeds by 25% and the upload speeds by 4000%. This probably will be in 2 years or so. We are talking about it at http://www.EVDOforums.com, and here is the specific URL:
http://www.EVDOforums.com/about12.html
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jpmist said 9:50AM on 10-11-2005
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. I think you're doing the right thing by holding off because from what I've read, WiMax will be worth the wait. As far as $80 being too expensive I pay nearly that now to have laptop connectivity at home and at WiFi hotspots. Now that you don't need a PC slot anymore, you really don't miss your 12" G4?
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EVDO Guy said 11:27PM on 10-11-2005
Waiting for WiMax? WiMax does have the marketing behind it, but how long are you willing to wait? Using WiMax while mobile hasn't even been ratified yet. So, it could be a few years away, before it is as widespread as EVDO. So, it goes back to the question, "Who has the coverage where I NEED it". When WiMax becomes nationally available, it will make much more sense to compare it to EVDO and see which offers more.
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