Sprint debuts 2-in-1 AirCard 402 mobile broadband card
By Donald Melanson 
posted Apr 21st 2009 4:31PM
posted Apr 21st 2009 4:31PM
It's not exactly for everybody, but we have a sneaking suspicion that Sprint's new Sierra Wireless AirCard 402 mobile broadband card -- first spotted last month -- will make at least a few multiple laptop owners out there very, very happy. As you can see above, this one can function happily as an ExpressCard one moment and a PC Card the next, with each providing the same dual-band CDMA connectivity and support for EV-DO 1xRTT, Rev. 0, and Rev. A, along with all the other standard features and software you'd expect from a mobile broadband card. Perhaps the best news, however, is the price, which at $99.99 (after $180 instant savings and a $50 mail-in rebate), is pretty much in line with Sprint's other plan old ExpressCard options.
Damn. Thought it was going to be WiMax / EVDO from the title.
They already have one with Wimax/EVDO (Franklin U300)
You mean it's an Express Card with a PC Card adapter.
Sometimes I get the feeling Engadget is advertising for some companies...could it be? Nah
They Probably have a deal with sprint, they probably get part of their check from sprint
by advertising through the blogs and ads
It probably works in both modes because under the sheets its just a damn USB device anyway.
Or sometimes, I get the feeling that unlike most other sites which are run by emotionless but perfect robots, engadget is run by humans who make mistakes from time to time.
but then again, it's Sprint...don't they have a monthly cap?
back to my original point...it's Sprint...there's a reason why they are losing many long time customers to their competitors.
actually i believe sprint was the last of the major providers to put in a cap; basically every provider has a 5gb cap.
The other poster is right; Sprint was the last to implement a 5 GB cap, and even then, it's a pretty soft one.
I've gone over 5GB on my phone (even tethering aggressively with WMWifirouter) and not heard a peep. I suspect they're more lenient than AT&T with their $500-some/GB overage fees.
... Wait.. why is this news? Because it comes with a PCMCIA to Expresscard adapter? Because its "only" $100?
Sprint has had the Merlin EX720 for quite a while now, which also comes with a PCMCIA adapter. It can be had for free after the mentioned $50 MIR too..
http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPhones?phoneSKU=NVEX720DRA
plain
Why isn't there a USB version inside there someplace, like one of those Russian Nesting Dolls?
the actual chip is housed in a MicroSD card, which sits inside a MiniSD, which in turn slots into an SD card, which is nestled lovingly within a CompactFlash card, which slots just underneath the Sprint logo on the Expresscard 34, which is then slotted into the PCMCIA Card, which is then inserted into the computer which is then- NAAARRRGGGGH!
That would be the Sprint Turducken.
Sprint sells a linksys wifi router that can accept a PC Card.
I have that and a MacBook Pro which uses an AirCard;
so if I could use the card on either one, without re-registering
each device, it is a nice addition! I used to switch between the
USB version and the PC Card + wifi router.
"superhobo @ Apr 21st 2009 4:43PM
You mean it's an Express Card with a PC Card adapter."
Exactly. Wow, OMG, an adaptor!!! Most express size cards for Sprint have had those for a couple years now.
I just tether with my Touch Pro. Much easier.
So when is the Pre coming out?
Welcome to 2006
Wow, Linux compatibility right off the bat. If they can do that, I'll finally get some mobile broadband for my Ubuntu laptops.