Mobile Broadband: Internet Access on the Road

Whether it's you or the boss traveling, it's a convenience to be electronically connected wherever you go. Not every airport offers free WiFi and with any luck, the time spent in the airport pales in comparison to the time spent in a rental car, on the plane or in your hotel room. Even if you're in a board meeting, you can't always count on being able to plug into the nearest Ethernet port. With the inconvenience of being disconnect and the outrageous fees airports and hotels charge for internet access, you may want to consider a wireless mobile broadband card.

Mobile broadband is defined as high-speed internet access through the use of a portable modem, telephone or other device. It essentially connects you to the internet wherever you are. Of course, not all services are created equal. Cell phone service carriers are the most popular to offer mobile broadband and of course, your connection speed and internet experience is only as good as each carrier's network.

It's also important to understand that mobile broadband does not compete with a regular internet service provider (ISP). Mobile broadband is still limited in what it can do. It's great to use for checking email and browsing the web, but still has difficulty in file transfers and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

Do I really need mobile broadband?

This question is not easily answered; however there are some questions to ask yourself to determine if it's right for you:

• Are you spending money to connect to the internet at the airport, hotel, or other places?
• Are there often times when you are with a client or colleague where you've needed to pull something up on the internet, but had to do it later because you didn't have access?
• Would your travel be more efficient with an internet connection wherever you go?

Answering yes to all of these questions would imply that you should possibly shop for a mobile broadband carrier.

Before settling on the first carrier you come across or the carrier you currently have your cell phone service with, examine the differences between them first.

TopTenReviews.com did an extensive review on all the major carriers. They studied 7 of the largest mobile broadband networks and how they compared to each other. Here are some of the highlights from the top 4:

Verizon Wireless

While Verizon Wireless is the biggest code division multiple access (CDMA) carrier in the United States, they leave much to be desired in their mobile broadband coverage. Scoring a rating of "good" sounds appealing, but not when that rating is compared to the "excellent" rating of others.

Verizon Wireless covers 223 cities across the U.S. and 141 airports across the county. The typical price for the card is roughly $50, but don't forget the activation fee, the monthly usage charge and a commitment of 2 years.

Sprint

Although Sprint has combined their services with Nextel, it's a Sprint mobile broadband card that you will receive should you choose to use their services. Their coverage is slightly better than Verizon's and so are their prices. They offer service to over 9000 cities and 870 airports across the U.S. Almost everything else is the same between Sprint and Verizon except their early termination fee is $25 more than Verizon's.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile scores highest among cell phone users according to a comparison done by Cnet.com and comes in second among mobile broadband services. Their coverage actually scores the same as Sprint; however, they boast coverage in all cities across the U.S. and offer coverage in every airport in the U.S.

Their broadband mobile card typically runs about $150 plus activation and a monthly charge, both of which are comparable to Verizon and Sprint.

Cingular/AT&T

Rated highest among the survey, Cingular scored a rating of "excellent" on their coverage. Though their prices may be a little higher than the rest, their customer support is stellar. They almost offer too many ways to access support, however, when you're on the road and need a quick fix, it's imperative to have a multitude of ways to get it.

Their coverage includes over 13,000 cities across the U.S. and covers all airports as well.

The typical price of their card is $50 and also requires a 2 year commitment.

Mobile broadband carriers typically use two types of modems: dongle and USB stick. Both are very similar; however the USB stick is considered more ergonomic and cosmetically appealing. Without getting into the techno-geek jargon, there is very little difference in their speed capabilities.

Consider all plans available. These "data plans" are very similar to your cell phone plan. The amount of usage will determine which plan is right for you. In most cases, each carrier will offer an unlimited usage plan, but these plans typically cost around $80 a month. Because of the activation fee and the purchase price of the card, you can expect a pretty pricey start up, but it very well may save you money in the long run. Be sure to evaluate your needs before taking the plunge.