Generally when you think of a CDMA data card -- well, any data card, for that matter -- you think of a branded product that you purchase through your carrier at some seemingly random price that lies somewhere between "free" and "too much" after you've agreed to spend the next two years of your life dealing with 5GB caps, bankruptcy-inducing global roaming charges, and the occasional ill-timed failure during a liveblog (okay, maybe that last part is just us). Verizon promised great things through the
opening of its network to all comers, though, and Sierra Wireless is taking full advantage with the introduction of its USB 598 stick fully certified for use on Verizon's spectrum. Because the device isn't offered through Verizon, you're welcome to purchase it through any number of retailers (including Sierra Wireless' own online store) without having a single contract document presented to you, and when you get it activated, you'll be enjoying EV-DO Rev. A speeds just like everybody else. It retails for $199 -- just remember not to bother looking for it in your local Big Red shop.
posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:02AM
So Basically, this is a contract free thrill with a "Still Existent 5GB Cap" ???
I agree. This has data limits. As usual with these kinds of posts, I'm not sure I understand the advantage. So one buys the modem for $200. Then what? Sign up with Verizon, and one still gets a data limit of 5 GB / month. It is not the device that has unlimited data, it is the carrier- if any such carrier exists anymore (does one. Anyone know? I just seem to get dead ends on the internet, like this one). So buying this device through the manufacturer seems to offer no advantage.
Here in Europe we do not think of data cards as branded products tied to a particular operator, because we usually buy a third-party card, eg a Huawei one, and we use it with multiple data plans from many operators, since most operators offer pay-as-you-go plans without a contract. We just change the SIM on the data card and use it with whatever operator we want. Of course operators also sell branded versions that are cheaper and tied to their network, but these branded cards usually don't sell well and are only bought by people who don't know much about the technology, and are more common with business accounts where the employer doesn't want their employees to use other operators' networks.
stop bragging
Can someone please inform me of the Per month fee for this...Ive looked on all the websites and cant find any info for this....Is it you just pay the 199.99 as a one time fee or what?
From Verizon, the 5gb plan is $60/month. That will double if you are just 240mb over the 5gb limit ($.25/mb)
@Matt. Not being a comma-nazi or anything but you do mean "GB" vs "gb" and "MB" vs "mb" right cos .25c/mb is ouchy?
I'm with southbay11 here - this article makes it sound like you get EVDO-RevA for a $200 up front fee, and then no fees after that. Is that the case? If so, I'm so all over that.
I'm AMAZED that it can legally be called "unlimited" when there is CLEARLY a limit.
It's not called unlimited.
And it's not really limited. It's call an allowance, just like voice minutes. You can go over, it's just going to cost you...
so there is no such thing as a speed limit either.... you just get a 55mph allowance over than you pay extra
I don't even think they charge you over 5GB I think they just throttle your bandwidth. I may be mistaken, though.
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH.
Open Device Initiative? Seriously?
After what I've seen on PPCGeeks' forums, apparently it's not all that "open", especially after witnessing a 150+ page struggle for Sprint Touch Pro users trying to place their fully capable device on Verizon's network. Reps saying "Sprint's networks aren't compatible with Verizon", or not even knowing what the heck the ODI is.
Get with it, Verizon.
Came in here to post this.
Open network my ass. Yeah if you call arbitrarily just denying adding a device to your network cause you don't want to, then yes, it's oh so open.
Open device, meaning that items do not have to be sold by verizon to work on verizon's network. The devices still have to go through an approval process, and both the device and the network need to be updated to recognize the device.
Sprint phones are technically compatible with Verizon's network, but those companies have not applied to get the phones to work on verizon's network. Open network does not mean that a bunch of techies can hack a locked phone (on sprint's network) to work on another network just because they feel like it.
Perhaps if you actually knew what Their open network policies were, you wouldn't have so much to complain about? Or will you start demanding that verizon allow GSM phones on their network too, so you can have your unlocked N95. I mean, how can you have an "Open Network" if it is limited to just CDMA phones? ::Roll::
@menno
"Perhaps if you actually knew what Their open network policies were, you wouldn't have so much to complain about?"
Riiiiiight. I *do* know their policies. I also know the procedures for testing, which include E911 testing and Over-the-Air Activation testing.
"Open network does not mean that a bunch of techies can hack a locked phone (on sprint's network) to work on another network just because they feel like it."
Uh, yes it does. Open network = any CDMA device that can work on the network.
And for another thing, it's not that hard to convert a Sprint Touch Pro to Verizon, it's the fact that Verizon refuses to add the devices' MEID to the database.
Change the SPC to 000000, load on a Verizon PRL and ERI, edit the data settings.
Get the MEID added (the hard part.)
Dial *228 and activate.
The reasons people would want a Sprint TP on Verizon include the fact that VERIZON CRIPPLES THEIR DAMN SMARTPHONES.
"Or will you start demanding that verizon allow GSM phones on their network too, so you can have your unlocked N95. I mean, how can you have an "Open Network" if it is limited to just CDMA phones?"
The N95 is a pile of outdated garbage even I wouldn't touch. And the network can be open... to CDMA devices. Want GSM on Verizon? Go grab a global roaming phone from Verizon and travel overseas and roam on Verizon's GSM partner, Vodafone.
@ my local Verizon you get the card for free w/2 year contract. The early termination fee for getting out of your contract is $175. That ETF is prorated, so the longer you have the plan, the less it will cost you to get out of it. If 1st grade math is actually correct, this is a sham to make people think they are getting a deal.
I mean really, who wants to give Sierra (or anyone else for that matter) $200 to keep from giving Verizon $175?
I see corporate has arrived........
You should give your customers a bit more credit and stop treating them like idiots. OMGZ WHY CAN'T I HAVE MY IPHONE ON VZW?!?!??!?!?
Please, no one asked for GSM phones. All we asked for was to use our UNCRIPPLED CDMA HTC Touch Pro's to work on VZW which..... wait for it..... ARE TECHNOLOGICALLY IDENTICAL. The only differences are 1) It's cheaper 2) has double the ram 3) has GPS unlocked from the start. OH MY GOD THEY COULD CRASH THE NETWORK!!!!!
Wow, we must be CRAZY to want to use a phone like that. There's NO reason we can't use it on VZW with the understanding that it's our responsibility to come with an unlocked phone and it's not supported by tech support.
Now's the part where you tell us 'Oh the VZW version is just fine, no one needs the extra ram, blah blah blah....'
Don't make up some BS about an Open Network that you have NO intention of having. It's all just fluff. Like the UNLIMITED DATA PLANS!!!!! *limited to 5GB.
Verizon sucks. From Bluetooth to all this nonsense, to capping to rejecting the iPhone when they had first dibs.
The just don't get it.
Tell that to their largest satisfied customer base.
interesting
Quickest way to boost real, long-term growth: tax breaks for new business startup's
with valid ideas...
Nice to be nice
why can't they just be clear about it? all this is just too confusing to me.