Saturday, September 29, 2007

Wired on the Road is Getting Even Easier


Sprint just announced its latest cell-network modem, and I think it will be a winner. This is dubbed "Novatel Wireless Ovation U727 EV-DO Rev. A USB Modem" and according to the press release, it "Combines Mobile Broadband Connectivity and File Storage for Sprint Customers."

It looks like Novatel combined a standard USB thumb-drive with its cellular modem... a good thing since the old PCMCIA card slot is disappearing, or at least being used by other gear, as USB becomes the most available connection choice.

To sweeten the offering, the main connection uses EV-DO Rev. A, which (where available) can deliver great high speed connections. So if you're on, or near an Interstate or populated area, you should get near cable-speed connections with this baby.

Sprint says it will be available through their business sales outlets beginning in October. Here's their words...

Beginning next month, the U727 will be sold through Sprint indirect and business sales channels and online at www.sprint.com for a suggested retail price of $279.99 and as low as $79.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement and mail-in-rebate. Sprint retail stores will begin offering the device later this year. Service plans for the card currently range from $39.99 per month for 40 MB to $79.99 per month for unlimited data usage. Customers signing a two-year subscriber agreement will be eligible to receive unlimited data usage for $59.99 per month (no separate voice plan required).
By the way... you'll notice the Verizon logo on the image, so yes, Verizon is also offering the modem but I just don't have the details on their offering right now.
Posted by Scott at Saturday, September 29, 2007

6 comments:

  1. Is this advertising, SPAM or what?To busy to get info from another vendor, a major one at that. If you are going to post an article, take the time to doing a more complete job of gathering info.
    ReplyDelete
  2. The article says Sprint but the photo shows Verizon - which?
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  3. Novatel is the provider of the device.They sell it to the different telephone companies. I have used the Sprint U720 for over a year on my Dell Insperion. Some good things about it; it works well. A caution. Do not attach it to the lap top directly; use the attachment. I had connected the U720 directly to the lap top while on a table at a reastaurant and I moved the lap top over and bumped the U720. Bent it connection. Had to get a new one. Sprint was not nice as I was not offered insurance for that when I signed on. They wanted full price and two more years. I found one, less expensively on E-Bay. Less money, no two years contract. I think if I can get another inexpensively enough, I will pick up another repalcement, just in case.
    ReplyDelete
  4. In the interest of free advertising, here is the link to the Verizon website.
    http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=3304
    ReplyDelete
  5. Just signed up with another phone company (I dare not mention a name but it wasn't either of the two mentioned in the article). I chose them because we do so much coast to coast RVing and go to lots of out of the way places like Grand Isle, LA in the bayou. We have our phone service through them and have never not been able to get a signal or had roaming charges. With the internet service we have no roaming charges and unlimited download. Did not know enough about the card lingo and just told them that we wanted the fastest card and unlimited download. We have broadband speed and we love it. The cost was $59 month with 2 yr contract and the device was $159 with $100 rebate coupon.
    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi,

    I have the Verizon version of this wireless modem. It is great. My wife and I live in our 5th wheel full time. Rather than pay the high price of wireless at parks, I created my own wireless site using the cellular modem and a KR-1 router. I connect 2 laptops, a TiVO, a Linux server and a wireless printer in my private network.

    Willie
    N8WP
    Orange, CA
    ReplyDelete

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