Mobile wireless broadband technology is a technology poised for enormous growth. Today we think of broadband as DSL and Cable modem service for residential users and T1 dedicated lines for business users. If we use wireless Internet services, they are either point to point WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) services with roof mounted building antennas, or notebook computer access at WiFi hotspots or wireless routers.
That may be a very temporary situation. There is crying need for continuously roaming broadband services for laptop computers, pocket PCs, PDAs and advanced cell phones. One reason is the business need for technical, executive and sales people to stay in touch with company headquarters at all times. But that capability is here today. EV-DO (Evolution Data Only) cellular broadband and its fallback lower speed service 1XRTT will give you mobile access in the tens and hundreds of kilobits per second. Verizon Wireless is the leader in this technology. Read more in "WiMAX Tomorrow, EV-DO Today".
In the next year or two, you'll be able to routinely access the Internet at T1 line speeds (1.5 Mbps upload and download) or better. WiMAX technology is being tested to create metropolitan area "hotspots." But cellular technology isn't sitting still. Lucent Technologies and Verizon Wireless are testing the new EV-DO Rev A technology which boosts EV-DO data speeds to 3.1 Mbps in the forward link (download) and 1.8 Mbps in the reverse link (upload). Data latency is also improved with this technology.
The real excitement behind WiMAX and now EV-DO Rev A is not the increased Web browser speeds or faster email transfer. The applications waiting in the wings for higher speed carriers are VoIP telephone, video telephony including video conferencing, streaming audio, multimedia experiences and perhaps live television via cell phone.
Mobile wireless devices are quickly getting the capability for streaming multimedia, MP3 music, high resolution color video display and Bluetooth communications headsets. What's missing is a multi-megabit per second data link that won't break when you leave the coffee shop or corporate access point. The ideal will be always-on broadband that stays connected transparently as you walk from place to place, drive in your car, commute on high speed rail and perhaps even fly overseas. The tests in progress on higher speed wireless access are leading us toward that scenario in a matter of a few years.
If you are interested in wireless access via today's available EV-DO and 1xRTT broadband technologies, consider getting the Audiovox PC5740 card with Verizon Wireless Broadband Access from our online wireless store. We also offer a wide variety of cellular plans and wireless devices at Cell Phone Plans Finder.
