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June 27, 2006
EV-DO Cost/Benefit: Treo 700p vs. AirCard
I wanted to let you know about my experience with Verizon EV-DO service.
I've tested and found that you can use the Motorola RAZR V3c (from Verizon) as a tethered USB modem on the MacBook Pro on Verizon's BroadbandAccess (EV-DO) network - but it requires you pay US$59.99/month for "tethered data" option. This is the same price as using the Sierra Wireless AirCard.
The weird thing is that once I turn on that option, my phone no longer pairs as a Bluetooth modem with my Mac, it only works via USB.
In your ZDNet post Verizon Treo 700p EV-DO instructions
you mentioned that "The dial-up working (DUN) package costs an extra US$15 per month." I just wanted to clarify that the US$15 option is only available if you already subscribe to ZVW's US$45/month data plan, so it's really US$60 per month whether you use an AirCard or the Treo 700p's EV-DO.
In a sense, the PC Card modem may be a better deal because for the same monthly price you get a card with a separate account that you can use at same time as a voice call. The only extra cost is initial purchase price of the AirCard.
The only problem is that the AirCard won't work in the MacBook Pro's ExpressCard/34 slot and the Novatel XV620 won't be shipping until July 2006.
Bluetooth was never really supported by Verizon in the first place: previously it would pair via Bluetooth as a modem, but not authenticate.
On my Motorola v710 (on VZW) all I needed was a US$5/month Wireless Web data plan (with 20MB/month) and I could pair the phone with my Mac via Bluetooth as a modem and it would connect to the Internet via Verizon's slower National Access network.
What's your take on Verizon's EV-DO/BroadbandAccess pricing? Do you find it expensive? Are there alternatives?
Contributed by: EV-DO Man
Posted by PowerPage Contributor at June 27, 2006 9:53 AM
Category: Mobile Phone
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Comments
fwiw, i believe that w/ the aircard, you are on a separate 2yr contract. w/ the tethered data plan, you add it to your existing phone number as a feature; that means you can add/remove it "whenever" you want w/o a cancellation fee. you may or may not value that flexibility.
Posted by: anon at June 27, 2006 10:44 AM
I use my SPCS 700p for a dial up modem and it is on $40/month and that includes unlimited data on the Treo, also. And starting July 1st Sprint users will be able to raom onto Alltel for EVDO/1xRTT for data also.
Posted by: Jay at June 27, 2006 11:36 AM
I've used a Motorola e815 via Bluetooth with my Powerbook G4.
The e815 did not need any new software - it connected fine via Bluetooth right out of the box.
I only tested it (in a 1xRTT area, non-EVDO).
Still, you get twice dialup speeds over 1xRTT.
Posted by: Bill at June 27, 2006 12:37 PM
Been using the Treo 700P for weeks now using as a USB moden via Bluetooth. I DO not pay the extra $15, and have NO problem conecting. I use the Verizon software VZAccess Manager.
Posted by: David Josephson at June 28, 2006 12:21 AM
David,
which version on the VZ Access manager were you able to get working with treo 700P - I am trying to get this to work on my mac without paying the 15$ per month and am having a hard time.
Posted by: PJ at July 7, 2006 2:56 PM
