Telava 3G Broadband Bullet kills mobile broadband contracts dead
By Tim Stevens 
posted February 25th 2010 7:54AM
posted February 25th 2010 7:54AM
3G anywhere is great, but locking yourself into a two (plus) year contract to get access to it is decidedly less-so. Enter Telava, a prepaid wireless company that is launching its so-called Broadband Bullet. It's a simple USB modem that you can pop into your port-having device and get online at typical 3G speeds, the interesting thing being here that your $50 a month for 5GB ($60 for unlimited) comes without a contract. You can pay for one month, take a month off, then pay for the next two, switch between 5GB and unlimited, and generally do whatever you like without getting hit with an ETF. What you will get hit with is a $100 up-front security deposit, or you can pay $200 if for some crazy reason you want to keep the thing. Telava promises "nationwide coverage everywhere," and Update: As a few of you have pointed out in comments, this appears to be T-Mo's network it's piggy-backing on.
@nedflandersMom
T-mobiles Network
its really £15 a month for 3GB except they dont charge or stop the connection when it runs out, so you can do 50GB+ a month for the same price, so unlimited internet
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/mbbpayperday/
Don't think it's T-Mobile. According to a 2008 SEC filing it looks like the company has ties to ATT and Verizon.
"Strategic partnerships with major LEC’s, including Verizon, AT&T, and Ameritech" Plus the Executive VP is Ray Powers, formerly of AT&T/US West.
http://msnmoney.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHTML1?ID=5986148&SessionID=1_RjWMJpzzfnEu9
Price isn't as good as Datajack.com. $40/month, no contract, and they claim true unlimited use. You buy the dongle for $100. I think it's using AT&T. I haven't taken the plunge yet because I've been waiting to hear others' experiences.
Sorry, but $60 a month is bullsh*t. If AT&T can offer a plan for $29.95 data plan for the iPad, then someone can match or beat that offer.
@Spiny Norman
I agree. Now that Apple has set the bar with the iPad at $30 a month, soon enough there will be another provider offering up another tablet with "unlimited" data for $27.99. I use quotes around unlimited because until the providers stop fraudulently capping or otherwise limiting what they market as unlimited data, it's really not unlimited. I look forward to the (hopefully) near future, when unlimited internet actually means unlimited, and we have 4 or 5G networks capable of speeds fast enough to rival broadband cable, thus allowing us to drop our cable internet and only pay one "unlimited" data fee a month.
It is hard to say what carrier they are using. They offer cell phone (voice) as well that clearly matches T-Mobile's map (as some people pointed out). I think this is possibly Sprint or Verizon providing data coverage.
Tmobile? Not much 3g Coverage there. But for a no contract for the same price on with a tmobile webconnect stick, you can definetly count me in.
Oh how companies and websites like to play on the dreaded contract.
It's called, don't agree to a contract, your choice. VZW, ATT, etc have already been offering pay as you go.
Only thing new here is $10 cheaper or same price for unlimited, but t-mobile, super?!
I called the company and found out a couple things.
1. They use multiple networks. I asked specifically about Tmobile and AT&T and was told multiple. Could just be a response they always give, could be true.
2. In my area Tmobile is 2G. I have my Blackberry through them and love the service, but it's not mobile broadband. I asked if they supported 3G in my area and was told yes.
3. I also was told yes they use AT&T in my area.
"Telava owns a wireless network, led by WiMax standards"
So ... it's WiMax?
right here: http://www.telava.com/businessservices/OurNetwork.aspx