Verizon Wireless Broadband Review

Remember a few years back when Wi-Fi was starting to roll-out?  The way they were talking, Wi-Fi was going to go from isolated oases (hot spots) of wireless connectivity to virtually coast to coast ubiquitous connectivity in as little as 5 years.  The idea that you could connect to the Internet from virtually anywhere was sweet.

Five Years Later

Sure, if you're waiting for your JetBlue flight you'll find a connection.  Or, if you're enjoying your designer coffee-like beverage at Starbucks, likewise.  And, the hotel you're going to check into probably offers Wi-Fi.  But, we're a long way away from a connect from anywhere scenario.

Some smaller cities have experimented with and even rolled out city-wide Wi-Fi, but still we're just not there.

When I take my daughter to tennis practice, there's no Wi-Fi there.  The beach?  Nope.  Fortunately for us Internet junkies there is an alternative.

Verizon Wireless Broadband

For the sum of $59.99 a month, just 2 bucks a day you can connect from virtually anywhere.  Pretty much, wherever you can find Verizon cell phone service (and even in some places you can't) you'll be able to connect to the Internet.  Using either a PC Card or USB Wireless Broadband Modem you're on the Internet in a mouse-click.  You'll be happy to learn that Verizon is going to give you the modem free.  Cool beans!

Performance

Verizon promises download speeds of between 600kbs to 1.5Mbs or roughly the same as basic vanilla DSL service.  When I speed-test my connection (using speakeasy.net) I generally find I'm in the 1.5Mbs - 2.2Mbs range.  Not bad.  It's not as fast as my  home DSL Extreme connection (6Mbs), but for my mobile Internet needs, it's excellent.  Remember I'm probably not likely to be downloading massive video files while on the move.

Recently, as ATT has been upgrading telephone service in my area there have been periods of phone (and DSL) outages.  Switching over to my Verizon Wireless Broadband, I could barely discern a difference in practical performance.

My Viewpoint

If you need ( or just really want) Internet service on demand, this is almost a complete no-brainer.  Sure, an extra $60 a month isn't trivial, but from what I read, plenty of you nut-jobs are buying LUSH soaps for $7.95 a bar only to see them disappear in a couple of showers or baths.  I say, if you can justify the LUSH, Verizon Wireless Broadband is going to be a cakewalk!  But then, that's just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

 Regards,

Rudi