PantechUml290
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How to get Verizon's UML290 4G USB modem to work on the Mac
Verizon Wireless launched its 4G LTE network across the United States on December 5, 2010 and left many Mac users unhappy when they found that the two 4G USB modems that are currently available, the Pantech UML290 and LG VL600, were both listed as compatible only with Windows XP, Vista and 7. Fortunately, there are people who are willing to try to overcome hurdles that are unintentionally put in the way of Mac users, so there are now instructions on how to set up your Mac to work properly with the Pantech modem. Note that you'll still need to have access to a Windows machine in order to run the VZAccess Manager software, which is required to do the initial activation of the Pantech modem. If you have Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop for Mac, or VMWare Fusion installed on your Mac with a Windows virtual machine, then you should have no issues performing the activation. The instructions are actually quite easy for Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6 users. Plug the modem into an available USB 2.0 port, then launch System Preferences. Go into the Network settings, and the device will show up in the left sidebar as a connection.
Pantech's Verizon LTE modem configured for Mac use, follow along at home
At this point, you've got one of two choices for Verizon LTE modems -- the Pantech UML290 and the LG VL600 (which we got) -- and neither work on the Mac. Verizon says OS X compatibility is coming soon, but if you're the impatient sort and happen to possess the Pantech variant, you may be in luck: a member of HowardForums has posted instructions on how to set it up via Network Preferences. Windows is still needed for the initial activation, and there's no promises it'll work with every Apple computer, but if all the stars have aligned just right for you, hey, congrats.
Verizon launching LTE on December 5th, two transforming 4G USB modems hitch a wild ride
Sure, Verizon's holding a press conference tomorrow, but unless they've got a secret LTE smartphone or tablet (we can only hope) we've got a fairly good idea what the company will say. We're hearing Verizon will flip the switch on its LTE network on December 5th, unveil a pair of hot new USB modems to take advantage of those supposedly stellar speeds, and launch the SIM cards required to make LTE function in the first place. The gadgets include the LG VL600 thumbstick we've seen before, but also this marvelous-looking Pantech UML290 key, which has not only a slick swiveling case but also a dual-jointed USB port beneath. We doubt we're going to have any trouble getting this one plugged into even the slimmest of port-abhorring slimline computing machines. See where one of the SIM cards goes in the gallery below. Update: The populace has spoken, and "sexy" is no more. Shall we call them "transforming" modems, then? They most certainly are. %Gallery-108552% [Thanks, Anonymous and JT]
Verizon's Pantech and LG LTE modems leak out in ad form
Verizon's promised a 38-city LTE launch by the end of the year, and it looks like things are ramping up -- we were just sent this ad for the LG VL600 and Pantech UML290 4G USB modems. We've seen the VL600 at the FCC and in the wild before -- it's a dual-mode CMDA / LTE modem that'll work pretty much anywhere Verizon has coverage, while the UML290 has a note about global capability "coming soon," so we'd assume there's a GSM radio tucked in there as well. Both sticks look like they're pretty huge, which isn't uncommon for first-gen hardware like this, but we're hoping that rumored third Novatel stick is LTE-only and a bit slimmer. We'll see, we'll see.
