Mobile Broadband: Reviews

Updated March 2009

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Best low-cost mobile broadband plans

*Est. $20 to $60 per month Compare Prices

Most mobile broadband providers offer $50 or $60 monthly plans and nothing else. But AT&T provides three levels of wireless Internet service with monthly usage caps of 10 MB, 50 MB and 5 GB. That makes the more limited… plans a good choice if you mainly need to download e-mail and browse a few web pages each day. If you choose the 5 GB plan, you also get a free USB modem or "air card" plus free Wi-Fi at hotspots. Tests give AT&T high marks for superior upload speeds in its 3G network, useful if you need to upload a lot of photos or videos. The 3G network covers 165 metro areas and most major highways, but connection speed drops off sharply in areas where 3G coverage is not available.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Gizmodo: Tests of connection reliability and speed in eight big cities rank AT&T below Sprint on average, but AT&T outperforms Sprint in ...

Computerworld.com: Testing mobile broadband providers on his notebook computer in various situations within 50 miles of downtown Manhattan, reviewer ...

Computerworld.com: Not surprisingly, tests in Baltimore comparing AT&T mobile broadband (in its 3G network) with XOHM WiMAX find the latter much ...

Mobile-Broadband-Reviews: According to comparisons here, AT&T is fastest in some metro areas, especially in the northeast, but not elsewhere. However, the ...

DSLReports.com: Nearly 60 users review AT&T (formerly Cingular) wireless here. Users seem happiest where 3G coverage is available, with some ...

J.D. Power and Associates: Based on a survey of over 22,000 wireless-plan customers in six regions of the United States, AT&T slightly outranks Sprint for ...

ConsumerReports.org: A 2008 survey of about 52,000 users (in 23 metro areas) compares AT&T voice plans with those of Sprint, Verizon, Alltel (now ...

Amazon.com: Among mobile broadband modems and air cards, it's a 3G USB modem for AT&T that gets the highest average rating in user-written ...

TopTenReviews.com: Based on a comparison of features, Cingular (now AT&T) gets first ranking here among seven mobile broadband providers. However, ...

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Best coverage for frequent travelers

Sprint Mobile Broadband

*Est. $60 per month Compare Prices

Within the U.S., recent tests give Sprint's mobile broadband top ranking for the best average connection speed in a lot of different areas. If you travel widely, this makes Sprint a good bet -- but it won't be fastest in… all areas or even in all neighborhoods within one city. Sprint has GPS capability but doesn't include free Wi-Fi access, and exceeding the 5GB monthly limit charge can incur extra fees. Sprint's main drawback is its low ratings for customer service.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Gizmodo: Based on objective speed tests in eight big cities, Sprint outperforms AT&T and Verizon on average. Results vary by city, ...

Computerworld.com: Based on tests of mobile broadband in a variety of situations within a 50-mile radius of downtown Manhattan, Sprint proves easy ...

Laptop Magazine: Not surprisingly, in Baltimore where Xohm WiMAX is available, Sprint can't compete for download speed. The review also notes some ...

Mobile-Broadband-Reviews: Sprint shares the lowest overall ranking here with T-Mobile. GPS capability is a plus, but customer service still seems to lag ...

DSLReports.com: Sprint mobile broadband earns a Sprint earns a Silver award here, meaning that between 70 and 80 percent of their recent ratings ...

J.D. Power and Associates: Sprint ranks toward the bottom in this big survey of over 22,000 wireless-plan customers in six regions of the United States. ...

ConsumerReports.org: This survey compares Sprint with other major carriers. Each is ranked based on ratings for four factors, all having to do with ...

TopTenReviews.com: Sprint ranks third in this comparison review of seven mobile broadband providers, but the rankings are based on features rather ...

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Fastest wireless broadband, but limited coverage

Clearwire

*Est. $30 to $70 per month Compare Prices

Clearwire uses a 4G network to provide wireless Internet connection speeds that rival those of DSL and cable, at comparable costs. Download speeds range from 3 to 5 Mbps, and data access is unlimited -- not limited to 5… GB as it is with most other services. You do have to buy a USB modem for your laptop (*est. $80), but there's no long term contract (most services require a two-year commitment). The main drawback is that the 4G network is only gradually being rolled out in handful of areas including Baltimore and Portland, Ore. Clearwire markets WiMAX under the Xohm and Clear brands, currently, but plans to phase out the Xohm name.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Computerworld.com: Tests at Computerworld find Xohm WiMAX about three times as fast as AT&T's mobile broadband. Brian Nadel adds that it's more ...

Laptop Magazine: Xohm proves about three times as fast as Sprint EVDO, with both services tested at the same Baltimore location on the same Sony ...

DSLReports.com: At the time of our report, a comparison chart at this site ranks Xohm second among mobile broadband providers, based on users' ...

PCMag.com: This article recommends WiMAX for its reasonable pricing, especially compared with the major cell phone providers of mobile ...

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Verizon Mobile Broadband *Est. $40 to $60 per month

4 picks including: Gizmodo, Computerworld.com…

T-Mobile Total Internet *Est. $50 per month

4 picks by top review sites.

Cricket Broadband *Est. $40 per month

2 picks including: Prepaid Reviews…

Mobile Broadband: Reviews

Best low-cost mobile broadband plans

Best coverage for frequent travelers

Fastest wireless broadband, but limited coverage

Mobile Broadband by Price Range