In the United States, three large cellular-service providers offer mobile broadband services on their networks. Sprint and Verizon are both CDMA networks, so their services are based on EV-DO technology. AT&T, formerly Cingular, is a GSM network, so it’s offering an HSDPA mobile broadband service.
Mobile broadband services provide fast and easy ways to connect even from coffee shops.
All three of these companies have built nationwide cellular networks. But not every part of the network is created equal. If you’re in a major metropolitan area, then you’ll have the most data services available to you. But if you’re out in a rural area, you may be limited to simply making phone calls or browsing the Web at dial-up speeds.
For example, AT&T’s mobile broadband service is called BroadbandConnect. With BroadbandConnect, you can send e-mails, instant messages, browse the Web at speeds between 400 and 700Kbps, watch TV shows, and even record and share live video during a phone call.
But to access all of these BroadbandConnect services, you need to be within coverage range of AT&T’s 3G network. Right now, that’s confined to the nation’s largest cities. If you’re outside of that coverage area, you can still access some data services like e-mail, text messaging and Web browsing, but at speeds between 75 and 135Kbps.
Sprint and Verizon’s services are the same. With Sprint’s mobile broadband service, you can use your cell phone to send e-mails, listen to streaming radio stations, download songs and music videos, watch live TV, share photos, play games and browse the Web at speeds between 600Kbps and 1.4Mbps (megabytes per second).
But like AT&T, the most data services and the best connection speeds are only available in 3G coverage areas, which are usually found in the nation’s biggest cities. On the fringes of these coverage areas are mobile broadband roaming areas, which offer limited multimedia and data services. Even further outside major cities is the regular Sprint nationwide cellular network, with basic data services and connection speeds between 50 and 70Kbps, similar to dial-up.
What you pay to access these mobile broadband networks depends on what device you’re going to use. There are four basic options for connecting to a 3G network:
- 3G cell phone
- PDA/smartphone
- laptop computer with a PC card
- laptop computer using a cell phone as a modem
For each of these options, the cellular providers offer several different mobile broadband payment plans. There’s usually an option for unlimited monthly access, which is the most expensive plan. Another option is to pick a plan that allows for a maximum amount of data transfer a month. Sprint, for example, has an option for laptop users to pay $39.99 a month for 40MB (megtabytes) of data transfer over the network. Verizon has a 5GB (gigabyte) plan for $59.99 a month. To give you an idea of what that means, Verizon says you could send 1,747,627 e-mails a month before reaching 5GB, or look up nearly 35,000 Web pages
Cellular providers generally package their mobile broadband services for cell phone users. Sprint’s package is called Power Vision and AT&T’s is called MEdia Net. You pay extra for these packages on top of your regular calling plan. Or you can sign up for an all-inclusive plan that gives you a certain amount of anytime minutes per month, plus unlimited mobile broadband usage. With a PDA or smartphone, you can choose from unlimited or maximum data usage plus a voice-calling plan.
If you don’t want to sign up for a monthly plan, you can actually pay by the kilobyte of data transfer. Sprint, for example, charges three cents a kilobyte for mobile broadband access without a monthly plan.
Now let’s break down the terms and fees of a mobile broadband plan.
Terms and Fees of Mobile Broadband Services
Mobile broadband is a brand new technology, so expect to pay a premium to use it. Like all cellular services, mobile broadband requires a one- or two-year contract. If you cancel the contract early, the cellular provider can charge an early termination fee up to $200.
If you’re going to use a cell phone for mobile broadband access, you might also need to buy a new phone. Cellular providers require that you use certain phones to access certain services. If you want to sign up for AT&T’s BroadbandConnect service, for example, you’ll choose from a dozen or so phones that have the right hardware and software to handle Web browsing and multimedia playback. And if you don’t sign up for an all-inclusive voice and data plan, then you’ll have to sign up for some kind of voice plan in addition to the mobile broadband contract.
The nice part is that the cellular providers often offer steep rebates and discounts when you buy a phone with a voice or data plan. Some phones and PC cards are even free after all of the instant discounts, online savings and mail-in rebates.
Make sure you read your mobile broadband contract closely and pay attention to all of the surcharges and taxes that apply. When you’re quoted a monthly charge of $39.99 a month, that doesn’t include any of the extra fees that will show up on your monthly bill. Let’s talk about a few of them:
- Most cellular service contracts come with a one-time activation fee of around $35.
- Some contracts require a deposit. Depending on your credit history, that deposit could be as low as $50 or as high as $1,000.
- Cellular services are subject to state and local taxes. Depending on where you live, those could add between 4 and 35 percent to your monthly bill.
- Phone companies are required to contribute to a federal fund for providing phone access to low-income individuals and families. This is called the Universal Service Fund (USF). As of April 1, 2008, the FCC is charging 11.3 percent per telephone line, also known as the Federal Universal Service Charge.
- There are also various regulatory and administrative charges that add up to around one dollar a month.
Some mobile broadband services have roaming areas that extend into parts of Mexico and Canada. Generally, if you use data or mobile broadband services within one of these extended roaming areas, you’ll be charged an extra fee based on a set price per kilobyte or megabyte of data transfer.
We hope this has been a helpful introduction to the exciting possibilities of mobile broadband. For more information about mobile broadband services, wireless technology and related topics, check out the links on the next page.
Almost anything and everything in today’s world is unlimited. The world has come to a stage where technology and advancement has made it possible to procure almost everything in limitless quantities. So why not unlimited broadband too? Broadband is available today in both options; limited and unlimited. The influx of better infrastructure and better technology has now made broadband services possible in urban, semi-urban and rural areas also. From the time when only a dial-up connection was accessible in rural areas, companies have made headway into villages and areas where laying cables are impossible. Satellite Internet is the new phenomenon which can even provide competitive business broadband services in rural villages.
The minimum threshold for an Internet service to be termed as a broadband service is 768 Kbps of download speed. Most business broadband providers now have a minimum speed of 2 Mbps to a maximum of 24 Mbps. The higher the speed limit, the more expensive the broadband connection. A huge range of frequencies available has now made it viable for multiple users to log on to a single server and experience the same speed. Even during peak traffic hours like in the evenings or weekends, broadband services with reliable speeds are available for home as well as business purposes.
Small and medium businesses have long realized the need of a good business broadband connection. Whereas unlimited broadband is available for residential as well as business purposes, broadband services for businesses are expensive. But the huge number of competition in the market have steadily brought down prices and unlimited broadband for trade, commerce and industry is now available at unbeatable tariffs.
Broadband services can be obtained as monthly subscriptions. For a fixed fee which depends on the download speed and data transmission, you can access broadband Internet. When broadband is limited, you subscribe for services on a particular speed under a specific download limit crossing which you will have to pay for extra usages. For example, you may take a monthly subscription for Rs.899 which provides speeds upto 2 Mbps and has a download limit of 10 GB. If you cross the limit of 10 GB in a month, you will end up paying more than Rs.899 for extra usage.
Unlimited broadband is different because you don’t have a limit. You can download unlimited music, movies and wallpapers from the Internet all at a fixed rate. For example, you may have a monthly plan of Rs.1099 for a download speed of 2 Mbps. For Rs.1099 you can explore and download all you like.
When choosing a business broadband service, the most important things you have to keep in mind and compare are the subscription package, download speed, extra charges and after sales services. For a business situation you cannot compromise on any of these parameters.
The term 3G refers to the third generation of mobile phone standards as set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). 3G technologies allow mobile operators to offer more options to their users, such options include mobile broadband.
Compare 3G packages today
3G offers greater flexibility and services by making more efficient use of mobile bandwidth than did its predecessor 2G in a similar fashion
The relationship between 2G and 3G is similar to that between dial-up to broadband or terrestrial TV and digital TV. In all of the latter examples, greater spectral efficiency has enabled more consumer choice and a more effective service.
3G and mobile broadband
As a technology, 3G facilitates devices such as mobile phones and mobile dongles to deliver broadband speed internet. Most new top of the range mobile phones are 3G enabled, making it easy to check emails and browse the web on the go.
While internet use via mobile phones has been slow to take off, mobile broadband via dongles, has taken off extremely fast. Mobile broadband allows customers to browse the internet, email and download files, music and video clips from their laptops and PCs wherever there’s mobile coverage.
3G technology is made possible by two complimentary technologies HSDPA and HSUPA (high speed download and upload packet access, respectively).
These technologies enable mobile broadband users to access of up to 7.2Mb speed downloads and uploads with speeds of up to 1.76Mb via a mobile dongle, USB modem or data card which they plug into the USB port of their laptop or PC.
Predecessors of 3G such as 2G and GPRS offered limited internet connectivity that was often costly and slow. Conversely, because 3G uses the airwaves more efficiently, it can offer speeds of up to 7.2Mb with prices start at just £10 a month.
Broadband today: your options
3G mobile broadband is now available from all of the major operators in Australia. The major differences between the available services are coverage, performance and price. Since launching its NextG network, Telstra has led the race in terms of coverage and performance but Optus is rapidly closing the gap. VHA, the organisation resulting from the merger of Vodafone and Three, offers more aggressive pricing but is behind when it comes to coverage.
3G broadband is now more competitively priced than even entry level DSL. Coverage by the major network operators also rivals DSL:
• Telstra offers 99 percent coverage with its Next G network
• Optus offers 96 percent with its Yes G network. Aims to hit 98 percent by end the end of 2009
• Vodafone and Three to merge Australian operations to achieve 95 percent coverage
VPN services meet your business needs
VPN (Virtual Private Network) access is becoming the most significant driver for 3G broadband uptake when it comes to SMEs. It is being used for a mix of mobile, roaming and fixed requirements and as a substitution for DSL services, in circumstances where it arguably offers advantages. The availability of network-based 3G broadband VPN services will serve to increase the attractiveness of 3G broadband to business customers due to the high speed, broad coverage and relatively low cost that it now offers.
VPN is ideal for SME businesses. The ability to build corporate networks on a common IP core has transformed the way such businesses operate. The ability to connect 3G broadband services into such networks will drive further transformation. IP VPN technology is now very mature, having evolved in parallel with DSL. The speed and cost of 3G services is evolving more rapidly than was the case for DSL. 3G broadband is able to be used as a mobile, nomadic and fixed service, making it extremely versatile.
3G mobile broadband and your business
Being inherently ‘mobile,’ 3G broadband services are ideal for use by mobile field resources such as consultants and service technicians. Similarly, it is well suited to regular travelers or ‘road warriors’ that need access from their hotel, while at a client site or simply between meetings whilst sitting in a coffee shop. Sales staff will also benefit from the mobile nature of 3G broadband. They might look up and/or update details whilst with a client or perhaps avoid unnecessarily trips back to the office between meetings, saving precious selling time. For example, taking car hire Morocco with broadband service will give your mobile gadget access to the Internet.
I met with a client recently who has consultants that typically work on location at major banks and financial institutions. They have often found it hard to make arrangements for appropriate connectivity for their staff, which may require allowing for VPN access through a firewall. VPN access via a 3G broadband connection is an ideal solution in this instance; however it would be wise to have an external antenna, particularly if working in multi-story buildings.
In sites with a single computer and/or where an appropriate router and/or firewall is used, 3G broadband services may also be used to cater for ‘nomadic’ or ‘fixed’ requirements.
Given that there is no need to ‘install’ or ‘uninstall’ a 3G broadband service, they offer significant benefits for nomadic requirements. An example might be a stand at a trade show, where it has typically been costly and painful to set up appropriate network connectivity. Other examples might be a short-term retail shop, a temporary office while a business goes through a period of change or perhaps a disaster recovery site. In each case, 3G broadband offers cost savings and much less fuss.
Think of a staff member who frequently works from home and occasionally works on client sites. A 3G broadband service provides access in both cases and might also feature in your disaster recovery plan as it enables them to work from wherever it is deemed appropriate. And if they leave the business, you can reallocate their 3G device to another member of staff without having to pay any setup or termination fees. In short, 3G broadband is very adaptable and offers significant flexibility.