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Mobile Broadband
- Best low-cost mobile broadband plans AT&T DataConnect *Est. $20
- Best coverage for frequent travelers Sprint Mobile Broadband *Est. $60
- Fastest wireless broadband, but limited coverage Clearwire *Est. $30
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- Price
- No contract
- Connections usually reliable
- Limited to certain metro areas
- 5 GB "soft" usage cap
- Restocking fee in trial period
- Reports of poor customer service
March 2009. Cricket Broadband provides wireless Internet access limited to certain metro areas. Its main advantage is price; users say it's usually reliable but slow in areas that have not been upgraded to 3G. Average download speeds are faster than dial-up, and adequate for e-mail, web pages and audio, but not video or games. Despite the claim of unlimited use, Cricket could throttle connection speeds if you download more than 5 GB. We found quite a few complaints about rebate fulfillment, restocking fees during the initial trial period, and poor technical support. If you need a faster connection, consider paying more for mobile broadband from a cell phone carrier such as Verizon (*est. $60 to $80 per month).
We found the best comparison report on Cricket Broadband at DSLReports.com, where it's ranked and graded on various factors based on reviews and ratings from users. Sascha Segan tests Cricket for PC Magazine, and another article there praises Cricket primarily for its reasonable price. User-written comments at two sites, Las Vegas City Life and Prepaid Reviews, cover Cricket in quite a few locations.
Our Sources
Only eight users review Cricket Broadband here, with most reporting reliable connections with download speeds of about 500 kbps. A comparison chart at this site ranks Cricket third (to XOHM and T-Mobile), with good grades for easy installation and reliable connections, but only a C- for technical support.
Review: Cricket Broadband Reviews, Contributors to DSLReports.com
This hands-on review praises Cricket Broadband for its low price and rates it 3.5 stars out of a possible five. Tests in the Tuscon, Ariz., area find download speeds averaging 532 kbps, fine for web pages and audio but not for video. The service loses points for a hidden 5G usage limit, plus relatively slow and spotty Internet connections.
Review: Cricket Broadband with UM100 Modem, Sascha Segan, Jan. 15, 2009
This article praises Cricket Broadband, along with Xohm WiMAX, for reasonable prices -- especially in comparison with mobile broadband from cell phone providers.
Review: Outrageously Priced Technology, Jennifer L. DeLeo, Nov. 17, 2008
An ex-customer of Cricket complains about hidden fees plus poor coverage in the Las Vegas area. Readers complain that the "unlimited" Internet access actually has a 5 GB usage limit, above which extra charges are incurred, and that the free trial period includes a restocking fee. One longtime Cricket user in the Philadelphia area defends Cricket and reports connection speeds close to those of Sprint.
Review: Cricket Broadband, "Poizen Ivy", Jun. 26, 2008
Though this brief review says Cricket offers unlimited wireless broadband, readers note that like most mobile broadband providers, Cricket caps usage at 5 GB per month. Of the 27 readers commenting, nearly all criticize Cricket for extremely slow connections and poor technical support.
Review: Cricket Launches Unlimited Broadband, "Joe", Mar. 24, 2008
Mobile Broadband Runners Up:
4 picks including: Gizmodo, Computerworld.com…
4 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: Prepaid Reviews…
