Internet users have a variety of choices for getting connected. They range from standard dial-up phone service to DSL services, and cable and wireless hot spots that provide an alternative for users whose devices have built-in cards or modems. Still, many people have had difficulty finding an option that meets their needs when they leave their home base or when they are traveling. AirCards allow laptop users, and people with Web-enabled PDAs and smart cell phones to connect to the Internet by using the nation's established cell phone system.
Types
The Sierra Wireless Co. manufacturers AirCards. These cards come in many varieties to meet the needs of different users and devices. Some AirCards connect to the user's device through a USB port. Others can be inserted into an existing card slot in your Web-enabled device or a laptop's PCMIA slot. The type of AirCard you use depends on your device's configuration. Generic names for AirCards are laptop connect cards or mobile broadband cards.
Function
These cards access the Internet by connecting users through cell phone carriers that have third-generation (3G) data-transmission capabilities. The three main types of 3G mobile-broadband systems that cell phone carriers use are Evolution-Data Optimized (EvDO), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE).
Features
Mobile-broadband services differ depending on the carrier. Each has different nationwide coverage and data-transmission speeds. Verizon and Sprint use EvDO AirCards. They have data transmission rates of 3.1 megabits per second on the 3G network, but in rural areas with older networks, speeds are slower. AT&T Wireless is the primary provider of UMTS AirCard service. In major urban areas with new hardware, its data-transmission speed averages 3.6 Mbps. But it has less coverage than EvDO carriers in suburban and rural areas. With older hardware, data speeds might be as little as 384 kilobytes per second. The EDGE technology system is also used by AT&T, as well as T-Mobile. Of the three connection options, EDGE is the slowest, at 384 Kbps.
Usage
Depending on the carrier, you might have the option of purchasing your AirCard from the service provider or authorized retailers. Some newer laptops and smart phones have mobile broadband cards pre-installed. To use an AirCard, users must have an account with a mobile telephone service provider. Some AirCard service providers allow users to buy packages with specific data limits. Without an unlimited plan, users pay by data units, similar to cellular roaming.
Considerations
If the carrier you choose does not have 3G service in the areas where you need coverage for Internet access, your AirCard won't be very useful. Businesses can benefit most from AirCards by using them to help traveling employees stay connected to the office.
Tags: cell phone, AirCard service, areas with, broadband cards, cell phone carriers, mobile broadband
