EmailBest Reviewed
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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- Reliability
- Good 3G coverage in metro areas
- Good customer care ratings
- Day pass/24-hour plan available
- No trial period
- High charges if cap exceeded
- Expensive for non-cell-phone subscribers
March 2009. Overall, Verizon earns mixed reviews for connection reliability and speed, but kudos for good customer service. Large customer surveys rank Verizon at the top for voice calls, but objective tests of Verizon's mobile broadband rank it more in the middle. Connection speeds vary dramatically, even within the same city, so the lack of a free trial period is a major drawback. Verizon offers mobile broadband by the day (*est. $15), however, and that's useful for trying the service out or if you just need the service for just a short time. If you travel widely within the United States, reviews recommend Sprint Mobile Broadband (*est. $60 per month).
We found objective tests of Verizon mobile broadband at Gizmodo, where it's tested in eight different cities, and at Computerworld, where it's tested in New York. Mobile-Broadband-Reviews.com covers more factors and compares Verizon with more mobile broadband providers, but with limited hands-on testing. Big customer surveys at J.D. Power and Associates and at Consumer Reports focus on voice calls, which is only indirectly relevant to mobile broadband service. The comparison review at TopTenReviews.com covers mobile broadband specifically, but includes at least one factual error that affects Verizon's ranking there.
Our Sources
1. Gizmodo
Based on tests in eight cities with both a Lenovo and MacbookPro laptop, Sprint outperforms Verizon on average. Verizon is especially slow uploading data. However, Verizon is the top performer, on average, in Chicago and San Francisco. Note that within each of the eight cities, results vary greatly by neighborhood.
Review: The Definitive Coast-to-Coast 3G Data Test, Wilson Rothman, Dec. 17, 2008
Tests in a variety of situations within a 50-mile radius of downtown Manhattan find Verizon "a midrange performer" with connection speeds lower than those of AT&T mobile broadband. A big advantage, though, is that it shortens laptop battery life least.
Review: Review: Which 3G Network is the Best?, Brian Nadel, May 13, 2008
Overall, Verizon earns top ranking here, with praise for its reliability and customer service. The review judges Verizon as having "relatively no major faults" and notes that the acquisition of Alltel expands its coverage -- a weak point.
Review: Verizon Mobile Broadband Review, Marc Aarons
In a massive survey of over 22,000 wireless customers in six regions of the United States, Verizon shares top ranking with T-Mobile for the best customer service and call quality. The latter is relevant to mobile broadband, since connection reliability depends on it.
Review: Wireless Customer Satisfaction Survey 2008, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, April 24, 2008
5. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Consumer Reports compares Verizon with AT&T, Sprint, Alltel (now owned by Verizon), and T-Mobile. Each provider is rated primarily for call quality, not for data services or mobile broadband.
Review: Best Cell Phone Service, Editors of Consumer Reports, Jan. 2009
Verizon mobile broadband earns a Bronze award here, meaning that over 60 percent of its customer ratings are positive, currently and in the last five months. A comparison chart at this site ranks Verizon sixth among 11 mobile broadband providers -- just below Sprint. Most users praise Verizon for reliable connections and continual improvements, but speed varies.
Review: Charts -- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Contributors to BroadbandReports.com
Based on features, Verizon ranks fourth among seven mobile broadband providers. However, this seems to be based on the idea that Verizon limits mobile broadband to business users only. A call to Verizon confirms that this is not true.
Review: 2009 Mobile Broadband Service Product Comparisons, Editors of TopTenReviews.com
Mobile Broadband Runners Up:
4 picks including: Gizmodo, Computerworld.com…
4 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: Prepaid Reviews…
