Jul 27, 2006 7:02 pm US/Eastern
Cell Phone Carriers Offer Next Generation Wireless
by Sara Underwood
(CBS4)
-
-
Some new cellphone plans allow internet access from anywhere that a phone gets reception.
CBS
-
-
A wireless card from Sprint
Sprint
These days it's hard to imagine life without the internet. For work or pleasure, many people feel the need to have instant online access, wherever they go. The latest generation in wireless - Wireless PC Cards - bring you one step closer.
Business woman Denise Lum lives a fast paced life and needs instant access to online information. "I don't carry a purse. I carry a lap top."
Without the internet when she hits the road, her business would definitely take a hit! "If I didn't have it, it would literally cost me thousands of dollars."
So she uses a wireless cellular network to log on to her laptop anywhere she gets cell phone service, without the help of a modem or wireless router.
Wireless PC Cards or Mobile broadband cards are now offered by major carriers like Verizon, Sprint and Cingular. And experts, like Molly Wood from CNet, say it's the next generation in portable internet browsing.
"It allows you to get access to the internet in a lot of different places that you wouldn't otherwise be able to," Wood said.
It works by plugging in a special PC card that acts like a mini-cell phone transmitter.
The card's antenna receives and sends signals using nearby cell towers, allowing you to get online from your laptop the same way you would from your mobile phone.
"And that's going to be a separate charge than your normal voice minutes," warned Wood.
So you'll need to purchase what's called a data plan. Prices vary, but typically, you can get unlimited service for anywhere from $60 to $80 a month.
"Shop around for the best price and definitely talk to your wireless carrier because it is possible that you could get a better deal than the one they advertise," Wood said.
For someone like Denise, who travels for work, staying connected is key! "There's very few locations where I found that I couldn't get access and then access was just a matter of moving."
Newer laptop models may have a PC card already built in. But if you do need an external card, chances are you'll be able get it at discount when you sign up for a data plan. Keep in mind, you'll also have to pay an activation fee which costs about the same as activating a cell phone.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments