FlyerTalk Forums

FlyerTalk Forums (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/index.php)
-   Travel Technology (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology-169/)
-   -   UMTS WiFi Modem for Everywhere? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1113295-umts-wifi-modem-everywhere.html)

GadgetFreak Aug 7, 2010 11:49 am

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; U; CPU OS 3_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/531.21.10 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.4 Mobile/7B405 Safari/531.21.10)


Originally Posted by gfunkdave

Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 14438719)
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; U; CPU OS 3_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/531.21.10 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.4 Mobile/7B405 Safari/531.21.10)

I saw a prepaid plan with a USB modem advertised in an airline in flight magazine or catalog. I can't remember the name but it seemed reasonably priced for prepaid data in the US ($60 for 5gb if I recall). I can't remember the name. I just saw it in July and hadn't heard of it before. It might be new. Anyone know about this?

was it Cricket? www.mycricket.com

They roam on Verizon outside of their (limited) native service area.

I don't think so. I have heard of them. It was a company I hadn't heard of before.

DYKWIA Aug 7, 2010 8:35 pm


Originally Posted by GadgetFreak (Post 14438719)
I saw a prepaid plan with a USB modem advertised in an airline in flight magazine or catalog. I can't remember the name but it seemed reasonably priced for prepaid data in the US ($60 for 5gb if I recall). I can't remember the name. I just saw it in July and hadn't heard of it before. It might be new. Anyone know about this?

Virgin Mobile is $60 for 5gb. Only lasts for 30 days though.

I just bought their MiFi today. Seems to work great.

Cheers,
Rick

decaf Aug 8, 2010 3:16 am

DYKWIA - did you have to buy anything else with that or only the 30 days for 60$ and the MiFi? I guess I'll go that route too or else buy the Stick. Does the 30 days start from the first time you use it or is it month to month? I need a phone, too, does it make sense to get a phone card from Virgin at the same time? Does that have any advantages? Thanks!

wco81 Aug 8, 2010 9:02 am

Maybe when LTE has replaced CDMA in this country, prepaid plans will have more of a chance.

If nothing else, the MVNOs will have to go to LTE?

For that reason, you hope Sprint is forced to abandon WiMax and join the rest of the world.

DYKWIA Aug 8, 2010 10:39 am


Originally Posted by decaf (Post 14441680)
DYKWIA - did you have to buy anything else with that or only the 30 days for 60$ and the MiFi? I guess I'll go that route too or else buy the Stick. Does the 30 days start from the first time you use it or is it month to month? I need a phone, too, does it make sense to get a phone card from Virgin at the same time? Does that have any advantages? Thanks!

The MiFi is $149. Or you can get a USB stick for $79. I went with the Mifi as I can connect my iPhone and laptop at the same time.

I didn't really read the smallprint very well though. I thought it said you get 20 hours of power, when it actually says 20 hours of 'standby'. So, you only get 4 hours with the unit switched on using battery.

Cheers,
Rick

Non-NonRev Aug 8, 2010 12:08 pm


Originally Posted by ScottC (Post 14432728)
Virgin is not on Verizon - they are on Sprint (and owned by Sprint). The Virgin Mobile MiFi is their CDMA WiFi 3G router, and costs $149.

Scott - you're absolutely correct - brain-fart on my part :D

In fact, I was at a Starbucks the other day which shares its parking lot with a Sprint store. I parked right in front of the Sprint entrance doors, and I noticed a Virgin Mobile logo displayed right on the door.

Also, for decaf, confirming that with Virgin, you do not need a subscription - you buy what you need. As pointed out by others above, there is no rollover for any unused data. I bought a Virgin stick to use when I go to visit my mom, who does not have high-speed in her home.

ScottC Aug 8, 2010 12:22 pm


Originally Posted by wco81 (Post 14442538)

For that reason, you hope Sprint is forced to abandon WiMax and join the rest of the world.

What "rest of the world"? The WiMax coverage through Clear is the largest 4G network in the world - all other 4G trials are very limited in scope.

Clear has already said they'll possibly make the migration to LTE, but in the meantime, they've got a large network in place already. I love my Clear 4G adapter.

Non-NonRev Aug 8, 2010 12:30 pm

Target is selling the Verizon stick for $79.99 in today's national ad (regularly $99.99).

From Verizon's website, the 5GB/30 day plan costs $80.

wco81 Aug 8, 2010 12:55 pm


Originally Posted by ScottC (Post 14443305)
What "rest of the world"? The WiMax coverage through Clear is the largest 4G network in the world - all other 4G trials are very limited in scope.

Clear has already said they'll possibly make the migration to LTE, but in the meantime, they've got a large network in place already. I love my Clear 4G adapter.

Once LTE is deployed, how big a footprint will Clear have relative to LTE?

ScottC Aug 8, 2010 2:11 pm


Originally Posted by wco81 (Post 14443445)
Once LTE is deployed, how big a footprint will Clear have relative to LTE?

Only Verizon will know the answer to that - I think they claimed they'd launch in 10 major US cities. I'm guessing it'll take them 2 years to reach the coverage levels of Clear.

wco81 Aug 8, 2010 3:31 pm

I'm talking about world-wide.

Say 3-4 years from now, the footprint of LTE vs. WiMax.

Because it has implications for devices like Mifis and so on, the availability and price of devices and services.

Especially on a forum like this one where some people visiting the US are interested in the same prepaid data options which are common in other countries. If the US wasn't one of these CDMA ghettoes, maybe there would be such options already.

ScottC Aug 8, 2010 5:34 pm


Originally Posted by wco81 (Post 14444183)
I'm talking about world-wide.

Say 3-4 years from now, the footprint of LTE vs. WiMax.

Because it has implications for devices like Mifis and so on, the availability and price of devices and services.

Especially on a forum like this one where some people visiting the US are interested in the same prepaid data options which are common in other countries. If the US wasn't one of these CDMA ghettoes, maybe there would be such options already.

To be honest, 3-4 years is meaningless in the mobile hardware world. I don't have any mobile hardware that I've used for more than 18 months, so investing now in something that may be obsolete in 3 years is not an issue.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 6:39 pm.


This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.