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    mobile broadband

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by davidwebb, Jul 21, 2008.

  1. davidwebb

    davidwebb Newbie

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    hey can someone explain to me what mobile broadband really is?
    from my understanding its using a phone service to get internet
    and i think you have to pay per month?
    are there advantages to this vs. regular wireless internet
    im getting a laptop for college and im wondering if mobile broadband is something i need to include or not
     
    davidwebb, Jul 21, 2008
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  2. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Mobile broadband refers to accessing internet through a WAN network like Verizon or AT&T wireless network, so you will need a plan with them.

    Wireless internet, I never heard this, but it could refer to WiFi, which is WLAN, but you still need a plan with an ISP.

    The difference is the coverage, WAN is much bigger coverage than WiFi, another technology getting deployed today to satisfied that gap is WiMAX.

    Now, if you think you gonna be working in the yard or outside of the university, then you will need a mobile broadband plan, but if you think you are going to spend most of the time inside the university and the dorm, most likely you will need WiFi, I believe some university offer this service and you pay it with your university fees.
     
    Wirelessman, Jul 21, 2008
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  3. lgsshedden

    lgsshedden Notebook Consultant

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    mobile broadband offers you internet access as an alternate option to accessing service at home through an ISP or on the road at a free hotspot or a paid provider. Most campus' have free wireless wifi as part of their service for faculty and students: your normal wireless network card will aloow you to access this. Your wireless network card will also allow you to log into a free hotpsot wifi or a paid service such as Boingo.
    Mobile broadband allows you to access the provider's network by acting as equivalent to a cellphone: service is available through Telus, Bell and Rogers in Canada, Sprint, TMobile etc in the US -- you pay a monthly fee based on how much you use -- great for business on the go and those using hotels that charge rather than providing free internet access.
    So, how much mobility do you need? Does your home service and/or campus isp provider give you all the access you need?
    Mobile cards are great: not cheap but do mean you get internet all the time wherever there is cell coverage.
     
    lgsshedden, Jul 22, 2008
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  4. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

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    I use my phone as a modem, and I really like it. :) You will pay for it though, it's not cheap. With sprint, I get unlimited phone as modem for $40/month, and the speed you get will be largely determined by your phone (I typically get 500k-800k, with spikes up to 1.2mb or so).
    I recommend it, because with their broadband card access, it's like $60/month for only 5gb of use, but with a phone as modem, it's $40/month unlimited, don't ask me why.
    That's coming from Sprint though, I don't know about other service providers.
     
    talin, Jul 22, 2008
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  5. Yemo

    Yemo Notebook Consultant

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    Yemo, Jul 22, 2008
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  6. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Great point Talin, I will rep you as soon as I can.
     
    Wirelessman, Jul 22, 2008
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  7. carl669

    carl669 Notebook Consultant

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    i'm using my phone as well on at&t/cingular/whatever they call themselves now and get about the same speeds as talin. luckily, i got an unlimited plan quite a while ago for $20/month and have been happy as a clam ever since. :)

    i think their data plan is now $60 a month though (with tethering) for new subscribers. :(
     
    carl669, Jul 23, 2008
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