Laptop Service
Wireless laptop service like cell phone?
Someone I know recently got a laptop. She paid $60 a year for wireless service that works wherever she is (I imagine kinda like cell service). It’s internal to the laptop. What is this type of service called, and who offers it?
Most mainstream mobile services companies offer this.
at&t (formerly Cingular Wireless) has what you’re looking for, called LaptopConnect. LaptopConnect uses a usb wireless card which you can plug into the USB port of your computer, allowing you to access your internet from any location which has EDGE or 3G networks available [see link 1]. You can pair this card, which is currently offered at a $100 discount from the at&t online store during their current promotions, with an at&t mobile internet plan [also available online]. These plans range from $19.99 to $60.00 dollars per month [see the second link]. The more you pay, the more data you can transfer on a per-month basis.
On at&t’s networks, you can expect a 1.4 mbps speed in 3G supported coverage areas, which are pretty common in more developed U.S. areas, and 70-135 kbps from EDGE services, which will be available virtually anywhere with a cell phone tower run by at&t.
You should be able to negotiate and purchase these devices or contracts at any of your local at&t stores if you’re curious about them. Otherwise, you could get it all online for a substantial discount.
Sprint also offers this service [see link 3]. They have around the same data speeds, offering about 1.4 mbps on their ED-VO data network, which is also very readily available.
Good luck with you mobile computing.
COMPUTER REPAIR! 1-877-433-5835 – CALL NOW. LAPTOP REPAIR! Not the Geek Squad …better!