Alltel gets into the EV-DO fray with the unveiling of its Axcess Broadband high-speed wireless Internet service in three U.S. markets. Wireless customers in Tampa, Fla., and in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, can now subscribe to the service, which offers average speeds of 300 to 500 kbps for $69.99. The monthly fee includes unlimited access, the company says. Alltel is offering the Kyocera Passport wireless data card needed to access the network to customers for $159.99 with a signed 2-year service contract or $219.99 with a 1-year agreement. http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=newsat2direct&starting=1&pubdate=03/28/05
That is good if you are in those three markets and like to travel in those markets. But if you want broadband at your home, then it would be cheaper to get Comcast (for example) which costs $42/month or something like that (not sure yet since we still have the promotion of $19.99/month until June of this year from Best Buy).
Strange that Alltel got EV-DO up and going before Sprint. I am sure Sprint will have more markets ready whey they launch EV-DO this year.
Sprint will probably announce several markets all at once. According to their own press release, a significant portion of their network will be EVDO ready by the end of 2005. They might be waiting to see how much return will come out of this. I'm wondering how much VZW is actually making off customers who use their broadband network?
Yeah, baby, EV-DO! Rock, rock on! Now I can't wait until the Alltel/WWC merger is complete. High... speed... data! It's almost too much for me to think about. Of course, I'll have to upgrade from my TDMA phone to a CDMA EV-DO capable handset but damn, what an improvement over T-Zones.
Does anyone know if VZW and Alltel are going to allow EVDO roaming? That would significantly increase the usefulness of the Alltel card. Also, Comcast's HSI service is all well and good (I have it myself) - unless you spend more time on the road than at home. The $42.95 you pay Comcast limits you to connecting from home, with no dial-up or access via hotspot partners. (Sure, you get a DISCOUNT for TMo hotspots, but ONLY if you subscribe for a full year.)
I agree, if you spend a lot of time on the road, then getting broadband internet from your wireless provider(for a higher monthly fee) would probably be smarter(if you have a laptop). If Verizon and Alltel are going to allow EV-DO roaming then that would dramatically increase Alltel's footprint, but Verizon would also gain in the long run.
