Sprint first to release EVDO Rev A device - available NOW

http://www.evdoforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3152

http://www.evdoinfo.com/EVDO_Products/PC_Cards/Novatel_S720_EVDO_Rev_A_for_Sprint_20060824806/

Wow!

- Dowloads up to 3.1Mbps (average will likely be 600Kbps - 1.0Mbps). EVDO Rev 0 max is currently 2.4Mbps.

- Upload to 1.8Mbps (average will likely be 400Kbps - 600Kbps). Rev 0 max is only 144Kbps.

- Latency as low as 50ms, which should help VPN and chatty apps. Rev 0 latency is typically 150ms-400ms.

- Sprint plans to have EVDO Rev A rolled out to 40m population be end of this year and nearly all network (220m+ pops) by end of next year.

- The Rev A card will still work on Rev 0 and 1xRTT network, of which Rev0/A plans to be rolled out from 155m pops now to 200m pops by end of this year, 220m+ by end of next year. Sprint apparently needs to acquire iPCS affiliate to do entire network (rural IL, IA, MI, WI).

- Sprint will also dataroam on Alltel network starting later this year, both EVDO and 1xRTT networks. 1xRTT roaming already works in a few areas.

- Rev 0 cards already roam on Mexico/Canada EVDO and will continue to expand.