D-Link's DI-725 Wireless 3G Mobile Router

We were wondering how long it was going to take for the networking big boys to stomp all over Junxion's turf, and now it looks like D-Link is stepping up with a 3G WiFi router of its own. Like the Junxion box, D-Link's DI-725 Wireless 3G Mobile Router lets you create a WiFi hotspot anywhere you can find coverage; you just pump in 3G courtesy of a high-speed wireless laptop card (they list it as working with EV-DO, UMTS, Flash-OFDM, and HSDPA cards) and the router will pump out 802.11g (there are also four Ethernet ports, if that's more your style). D-Link figures says that the router will most likely be sold by wireless carriers that offer 3G; guess we already know that one of those won't be Verizon.

[Scoobydoo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

If this doesn't support Verizon, then there won't be much left for it to do in the US. With the possible exception of Sprint the country is pretty much without 3G :( It would be nice if it were to support GPRS/EDGE as that would open up a massive market for them.

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

If it works with EV-DO what makes it 3G only?

[alex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

EV-DO = 3G.

[Peter Rojas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

It'll work with Verizon, I'm sure, it's just that they really, really, really don't want you to.

[Josh Chaney @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

You guys aren't paying attention. The article says it will be sold by wireless carrier's. Engadget was simply saying Verizon won't likely sell it, not that it won't work on Verizon's network.

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

EV-DO != 3G

EV-DO is cdma2000

EDGE and GPRS as GSM (G3)

[Peter Rojas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Andy,

EV-DO and WCDMA/UMTS are both widely accepted as being 3G wireless technologies.

http://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php?gid=151

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Peter,

Thanks for the link, I always thought it was just 2 types of networks and that these high speed cards were just continuations on that, never realized that, thanks.

[YippySkippy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Funny, I don't see a product image (at least a photo of a mock-up model like the one that accompanied Kyocera's KR1 "product release" PR last March?), pricing, availability, carrier deals...could this be a vapor (or semi-vapor) response to Netgear's recent announcement of a similar OFDM-Flash device?

D-Link plans to distribute through carriers? Before US carriers will certify/distribute a device like D-Link's for consumers/small business (D-Link's stated market)...at a service price plan that large numbers of consumers will pay for (yes Verizon lowered their EVDO unlimited price today, but let's see what their service plan pricing for their first approved D-Link or Netgear box, and to be sure it will be tightly controlled/limited in functionality)...they will need to first get comfortable with these devices for their large enterprise/government customers.

Europe on the other hand is ripe for something like D-Link's consumer product (if/when it arrives)...landline data prices there are sky-high, and so wireless data carriers don't have to drop their prices to the basement to go head-to-head with landline carriers. That's why Novatel focused their first Ovation console (another flavor within the "wireless WAN router" category, packed with more features like integrated VOIP so the box provides both voice and data for one price) deployment in...Germany, I think.

In the removable PC Card category Junxion and Verilink are both getting traction in the enterprise market, both sporting features that are designed to support medium/large enterprise and government...markets that have some different needs than the consumer/small business market that D-Link, Netgear and Kyocera (oh, and Linksys) may or may not be almost -- sort of -- maybe -- just about ready to deliver products for.

Word on the street is that D-Link was going to build the KR1 for Kyocera in response to a CDMA carrier RFP but couldn't deliver all the features the carrier was looking for in an enterprise WWAN router. Kyocera seems pretty quiet since...the KR1 is alot like the Netgear/D-Link consumer flavor but only supports one PC Card: Kyocera KPC 650, and will probably only support one carrier at a time (why not an embedded modem then?).

There's alot of white noise out there about this new wireless WAN router product category...reality is that various sub-categories are emerging for different markets: build-your-own afficionados (Stompbox), consumer-ish (Kyocera/Netgear), and enterprise (Verilink, Junxion)

Cisco has a Mobile Access Router with too many features for most uses and a non-upgradeable embedded modem that is 5 to 7 times the cost of Junxion's highest priced model with WiFi LAN ($600-$700)...FYI Verilink's device (no WiFi) is about $1000, and Junxion's non-WiFi model runs $500-$600.

Seems what we should be tracking and discussing over the next few months in terms of *commercially available products* (Stompbox is cool but don't most people/businesses buy PC's rather than build their own?) is something more than vapor-releases, it's:

Who has products that are selling to credible customers?

Who has meaningful distribution channels?

Who receives carrier certification (a huge indicator of market shift and competitive edge)?,

Who are their target customers?

etc.

[Robyn @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Yeah, thanks for the clarification Peter. This all confuses me somewhat.

What I am clear on (as a verizon customer) is how uber proprietarty their phones have become. The V710 (mine) is a great phone, but I had to modify the software to be able to use it with my laptop (or pay the $80 a month for a data plan).

The phone was made to do what it does, but verizon disabled these capabilities because they want me to pay the fee. I mean, I still pay the minute charge and I'm not getting the speed of the data plan rate, but at least I can check my email on my laptop when I am w/o a wireless connection (via the bluetooth).

[Sonix @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

I can just imagine the family sharing 1 $4.99 Edge account over WIFI!

[EVDO Guy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

The specs of this router and the Kyocera KR1 are very similar, it will be interesting to see which one makes it to the market first. Confirmation, this will work with Verizon. It will be interesting to see what sales channels will be available besides the carriers.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:19AM]

Someone asked about credible cellular router products... It is my understanding that Proxicast ( www.proxicast.com ) invented the first commercially available cellular router over three years ago. Proxicast has sold thousand of units world wide. Their products are rock-solid enterprise grade cellular routers. The CDMA or GRPS is built-in and the units sell for around $895 with the radio. We have over 35 of their CDMA LAN-Cell units performing remote data communication and are very happy with the Proxicast LAN-Cell products. I suggest you put Proxicast on your list of cellular routers to check out.