We'll admit that we never took Best Buy as the kind of company to sell its own wireless service, but you know what Best Buy
does sell? Laptops with unlocked WWAN modems, and to that end, the retailer's
Best Buy Connect offering seems to be a pretty attractive one. Monthly plan pricing is about what you'd expect from anyone else, and you'll be able to choose between two-year, one-year, and contract-free packages for the same price -- the only difference is how much subsidy they'll throw in for you upfront. On a two-year deal, you'll get $275 off the compatible laptop of your choice, which compares favorably against all of its competitors -- AT&T at $150, Verizon at $200, and Sprint at $250 -- while you'll pay $60 for 5GB of data, $40 for 500MB, or $30 for 250MB (only available without a contract). Sure, you might not attract the glitz, glamor, and curious stares that a high-fashion name brand like Verizon might... but seriously, who are we kidding? Data is data, and if this works well, it sounds like a square deal. Hit up the source link for all the details.
[Thanks, Christian]
posted Jul 6th 2010 5:34PM
5gb of data?
captain_picard_facepalm.jpg
@GreatLoner
Best Buy + Engadget =
@GreatLoner These data caps are DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!!
@GreatLoner Here's the pic you were looking for...
@JLPicard
Glad I have my 79.99 Sprint unlimited data 4g + 23% discount. O yea I can make calls. Tethering FTW.
@JLPicard
T-Mobile offer $40/mo 10GB data only plan for smart-phone(with contract $50/mo) Even you are over 10GB cap, they not gonna charge any additional Fee. They just slow you down.
With their HSPA+ data network, their data plan is best(I think)
@raiden8383
That would be the case if they had decent coverage everywhere. T-Mobile has the cheapest plans but the worst service. I think Sprint has the cheapest plans for the features(anymobile anytime anyone?) yet they have decent coverage just about everywhere. Now that I think about it, Sprint has cheaper plans WITH more features! They might not be Verizon but Verizon's plans suck and are expensive without as many features.
@GreatLoner
Sweet.
Now if only this got hot enough for BB to make me some freaking money, so I can finally get rid of the shares I own I'd be happy!
@raiden8383
Tmobile is crazy fast were I live, unfortunate that they still don't advertise it.
This is... Not A Bad Buy
seems okay i would prefer unlimited data
Is it an MVNO? Who is actually carrying the data?
@kr1shna
From the coverage map it looks like many Sprint. Shouldnt be a gsm provider since they say the laptops can't be used over seas
@kr1shna Yep, it's absolutely sprint, do a view image source on the coverage map: http://coverageort.sprintpcs.com/images/B77712BY.gif
@dbsynergy Thanks. Then why does the post say with "unlocked WWAN modems"? That implied to me it was a GSM carrier.
@kr1shna Because these laptops frequently use Gobi modems, which can use either GSM / HSPA or CDMA2000 / EV-DO networks.
@kr1shna
That was engadget. The faq on their site does not mention unlocked anywhere
@Chris Ziegler
Chris, people take what journalists say pretty seriously, so please read my whole comment with an open mind.
>kr1shna Because these laptops frequently use Gobi modems, which can use either GSM / HSPA or CDMA2000 / EV-DO networks.
Only two terms you specified are networks, and those are GSM and CDMA2000. EV-DO is an extension to the CDMA2000 specification as GSM is a network specification and GPRS is an extension to it, and EDGE is an extension to GPRS.
HSPA is not an extension to GSM*. HSPA is an extension of the WCDMA air interface, and WCDMA is one of the 3 air interfaces on a UMTS network. Since HSPA is necessarily an extension of WCDMA by definition, "GSM / HSPA(UMTS) / CDMA2000 networks" is a short, mostly accurate way to describe the Gobi modem. The phrase "GSM / WCDMA(UMTS) / CDMA2000 networks" is the most technically accurate way to describe it as it specifies all the parts to make sure your modem will work on a certain network without specifying unnecessary, more specific parts (ie: HSPA).
* UMTS is not an extension to GSM either, although it does re-use parts of the GSM core network. It is a complete network specification in of itself.
This is not an argument of semantics**, it's cold hard facts: I'm not the only one who cares to get it right, check out cnet's attention to detail:
T-mobile mytouch 3g's Cellular technology is specified as "WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM" http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/t-mobile-mytouch-3g/4505-6452_7-33698118.html
Sprint EVO's Cellular technology is specified as "CDMA2000 1X" http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/htc-evo-4g-black/4505-6452_7-34026334.html
**The reasons for being so specific are the fact that China uses the TD-SCDMA air interface with the UMTS network. FOMA used the WCDMA air interface without being UMTS compatible. (As of 2004 it is compatible, but at any time another incompatible network could utilize WCDMA, and UMTS already does use non-WCDMA air interfaces).
@longcat I'm not debating the technical accuracy of your diatribe here -- I know you're right, and if you've been following me for any length of time, you know that I already know everything you've said. What we really need to look at is the practical implication (or lack thereof) of your argument.
It's widely (if not universally) understood that carriers around the world who had deployed GSM / GPRS / EDGE in their 2G / 2.5G footprint have gone on to additionally deploy UMTS, and from there, upgraded to HSPA. Therefore, saying "GSM / HSPA" makes a lot of sense, particularly when the modem supports GSM and HSPA and will be used in exclusion of its CDMA2000 support.
Likewise, "CDMA" is exceptionally common shorthand for CDMA2000 1X, which I'm sure you know. If anything, if I had to type the comment again, I may have said "CDMA / EV-DO," and I wouldn't have felt bad or incorrect about it. There are ground rules in effect when discussing wireless technologies that allow us to know what's being said.
My point is that the engineering-level technical accuracy of what I'm saying here is irrelevant; for all practical purposes, people understand what's being said without employing unnecessarily awkward verbiage and parentheticals.
@Chris Ziegler
I wonder if you sent him crying to his mother after you shit all over his forehead!
The logo is almost an engadget kirf with the curved bits on the t.
Now to figure out what network this runs on....
@mbg19
Sprint. The coverages maps for both are mirror images
Uses mainly Verizon towers so the coverage seems really good. Reward zone points for paying your monthly bill is actually pretty cool.
Congrats bestbuy. I do wonder how this compares to Fry's mobile broadband offering?
@DefPoet I meant Sprints
Ohh, this is running on sprints network... i checked the coverage map and the source is from sprint soooooooooooooo SPRINT FTW!!!
Yes, it's an MVNO running on Sprint's network. Wherever Sprint has coverage, you will too. Sounds like good marketing to sell the service with the actual laptop. I bet there are some people with built in WWAN and don't even realize it or have any intention of activating it.
That's a lot of money. You can get unlimited* data at very fast speeds** with T-mobile for $39/mo. I'm not seeing the "Best" in this "Buy" -- for the consumers. But I do imagine that Best Buy will be able to rake in overage charges. But will it be enough to cover the cost of fully supporting the devices and the required calls centers if what ATT says about "most people use under 2GB" holds true? Maybe with a scripted outsourced call center... which will surely give the customer service for this a bad name. Will Best Buy be able to attract enough customers that the deal with them and the underwriting data provider will turn a profit?
* Unlimited being normal speeds up to 10GB/month then being capped.
** I can get 600KBps down, 150KBps up where I take off my shoes.
Now, if this is an MVNO from Sprint, how the hell are they getting roaming coverage? I spotted a yellow "Roaming - performance may vary" on Best Buy's map, yet on any other MVNO roaming is disallowed.
What the shiat?
T-mobiles 3g coverage looks like a mathematical error when compared to the bigger threes and even metropcs
$60 == 5gb
$40 == 500mb
Why o why ?!?!?
I might not wanna spend 60 bucks a month for 5gb (over the 30 bucks i already pay for the phone data), but i might spend 12 bucks for 1 gb.
Virgin Mobile NO CONTRACT data is:
10$ for 100mb
20$ for 300mb
40$ for 1GB
60$ for 5GB
MiFi for 5 wifi devices is $149. USB dongle is 79$.
Best Buy is not such a best buy.
Guess what it uses the Sprint network. Got a MiFi for our house in the Poconos and it is amazing! Gives a Wifi signal all over house, best cell reception is by a bay window.
Download Opera. There is a TURBO mode that compresses the page before it sends it to you. Supposed to be used for dialup, is Opera Mini proxy server. 300 megs will then last all month about 100k a page. Even though a page then takes 20 seconds to load. Or at least use firefox with flashblock.
Now that is a BestBuy, ACTUALLY I GOT IT AT BESTBUY! Glad I thought of it. Only problem Mifi is sold out everywhere....
Sprint is making a comeback..
I don't get it... T-Mobile offers overage-free plans at $49.99 without wireless service and $39.99 with wireless service with HSPA+ which is faster than any network... I know the HSPA+ isn't everywhere... but really why are people still paying $59.99 for 5GB with overage charges on just a regular 3G network? It seems like no one is ever going to lower the $59.99 price point, because people keep paying for it... which is just beyond me.
@jgarriot
Coverage and awareness
If people knew that they might be able to get coverage where they live and have be faster than they will buy. BTW how s you produce the garriot. Like garrett?
@DefPoet
Like the Marriott but with a G!
@jgarriot :c. I was hoping it was another way to spell my name
@jgarriot i agree. if you want to affect change you have to vote with your dollars. stop paying. save up the hundreds of dollars you'll save and buy an iphone outright, or better yet a nokia n8 which provides real options for people who are not on contract..
$60 for 5GB of data?! WTF?!
Is there a pre-paid bucket plan from any carrier? Like a pre-paid number of minutes on cellphone. I use up the minutes or megabytes, then I have to buy another bucket of data.
I don't need a monthly plan because usually I can find a hotspot (ie. Starbucks or McDonald's) to get some quick work done if I'm out of the office. But sometimes, I just can't find a hotspot and really need to get something typed up or attached a file that's sitting on my laptop. I wouldn't mind paying $75 for 5GB if never expires.
$60 for 5GB. So what's the point? This is the same price as everybody else. Yet another proof that there is no real competition in the wireless market. I mean how long have we had 5GB caps? Besides, most people that are interested in this probably already have a smartphone with a data-plan.
AT&T's subsidy for netbooks is actually $250, not $150.
Usually it's the UK that gets ripped off-everything is usually more expensive here. However I pay £7.50p a month ($11 approx) for 5GB of mobile broadband and for £15 a month ($22) I could get 15GB of mobile broadband. The prices you guys are being charged is ridiculous!
Best buy banned me from shopping in one of their stores. The manager said I return things too much. They keep selling me defective garbage so I said fine, I will shop somewhere else.
I am waiting for the dual core netbooks to come out and will use to bring to class. The school searches hard drives and their network is slow. So, I do have to go with broadband, at least for class. I have two other computers MAC and PC and a wireless printer. If I use broadband, how will I get them to work as a home network? Went to Best Buy today to get a Bluetooth USB for my wireless printer for both Mac and windows. They had no idea what I was talking about.
Suggestions?