Wireless Broadband Modems

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Wireless Broadband Modems

With a wireless broadband modem you can take your office nearly anywhere. Now you can connect your laptop to the cellular data network, surf the web and check your e-mail while on the go. These devices are great for commuters, travelers, and anyone frequently on the move. If you intend to travel internationally with your broadband modem we recommend AT&T devices and service; if not, Verizon is the best choice. Traditional PC cards, PC express cards, and USB models are available.

Initial Cost

If your laptop has an internal modem, we can activate it at no charge and you pay only the monthly charges.

Monthly Charges

5GB Domestic $59.99 (ATT); Unlimited $59.99 (Verizon)
100 MB International: $139.99 (ATT only)
200 MB International: $229.99 (ATT only)

* For ATT users: The international data plans include 5GB of domestic data with $.00048/KB overage.
The international data plans cover data usage in Data Connect Global Select countries with $.005/KB (approximately $5/MB) overage. All other countries where AT&T currently has data roaming agreements, the rate is $.0195/KB. Access to 3G(UMTS)/EDGE/GPRS, where available, is based upon device capability and network capability.

How much will it cost to send/receive emails and browse the web in another country?

Travelers need to be especially careful of data charges. Without an international data plan, the rates are far more expensive than for roaming voice calls and text messages. Even with an international data plan, pc cards (wireless modems) can still be quite a bit more expensive than using internet access provided by many hotels. If you are traveling within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, you DO NOT need the international data plan.

ATT and Verizon offer an unlimited international data plan for $64.99/month. If you are a Verizon user, please keep in mind that only the BlackBerry Tour, BlackBerry Storm, and BlackBerry 8830 World Edition work internationally. Users can sign up for the service for just one month if they are going on a vacation, and they can cancel the service when they return home. If you travel often we recommend you keep the international data plan since it includes unlimited domestic data.

For pc cards (wireless modems) the international plan covers either 100MB or 200MB of use depending on the selected plan and only within specific countries. All other use is charged per MB and can become quite expensive very quickly. For example, if you have a pc card with the 100MB international plan and travel to Spain, and use 1GB of data, only the first 100MB was included in the $139.99 monthly international plan. Because Spain is a select country the remaining 900MB is charged at $5/MB, meaning you are responsible for $4,500. This might seem like an extreme example, but it highlights actual past usage of wireless modems. In some countries, the per MB charge is $20, making the overall cost much more expensive.

Without an international data plan or outside select countries, ATT users pay $.0195/KB, $20/MB. The delivery of Visual Voicemail messages will be charged at international data rate. For Verizon users the overage rate is $0.025/KB, $25/MB.

Please Note:
1 MB = 1024KB
$0.0195/KB = about $20/MB