Dell Computer customers will be able to connect to the Internet through AT&T's cellular networks under a new agreement between the two companies. Dell said customers who purchase access to the network no longer have to search for a wireless "hot spot"--a public area outfitted with wireless networks--before getting Internet access. Instead, they can use existing AT&T cellular networks anywhere the company provides coverage. "Our customers' time is valuable, and we're committed to providing them a variety of options for wireless connectivity, both local and wide-area networking," Anthony Bonadero, director of Dell's wireless product group, said in a statement.
People who want to take advantage of the service must buy the tri-band SierraAirCard 750 wireless cellular modem, which they can purchase when they sign up for a service plans. The modems, which normally cost $299.99, are on sale for $224.99. Fees to access the network start at $29.99 per month and are based on megabytes used per month. The company said data will be transmitted through the cellular network at about the same speed as an analog dial-up modem.
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News source: news.com
People who want to take advantage of the service must buy the tri-band SierraAirCard 750 wireless cellular modem, which they can purchase when they sign up for a service plans. The modems, which normally cost $299.99, are on sale for $224.99. Fees to access the network start at $29.99 per month and are based on megabytes used per month. The company said data will be transmitted through the cellular network at about the same speed as an analog dial-up modem.
View: The full story News source: news.com
AIMutation features:
- Plug-ins that add new and exciting features to AIM.
- Transparency on Windows 2000/XP.
- Make transparent windows opaque when they're active.
- Modify the Login Logo with an image of your choice.
- Use Login Logos from skins.
- Log IM conversations
- Add start and finish timestamps to logs.
- Group IM windows into a single tabbed interface.
- Flash IM windows when you receive messages.
- Fast and convenient tab switching through Ctrl+Tab keyboard shortcut.
- Set IM windows to be 'Always On Top'
- Set 'Always On Top' option automatically for all IM windows.
- Set transparency level automatically for all IM windows.
- Skin AIM with your own graphics!
- Hide the ad window on the buddy list.
- Hide the various buttons on the buddy list.
- Cloning.
- And more to come soon!
The Sierra Wireless AirCard 750 is a GPRS aircard. The data transmission is only like 33k (real life). Wi-fi offers much better. The other thing, you gotta spend $200+ for the hardware, and then sign up for a AT&T Wireless Data Plan (mMode) and pay a monthly fee based on the amount of data you are going to consume. The advantage over Wi-fi that the AirCard has is coverage. AT&T Wireless has a decent GPRS blanket.
Wi-Fi hotstops are better. Here's why. Go to a Starbuck's and you can utilize a T-Mobile Wi-fi network for like $20 a month for unlimited amount of data. With Wi-fi, you could also find a "public hot spot" and surf the dang thing for FREE. To purchase a card is like $60 from Amazon.com (linksys).
Basically, Wi-fi you get more bang for your buck. You want novelty or to have the "new technology" look, then go with the aircard over a cellular network. Dell should have signed some deal with T-Mobile and access their Wi-fi network. AT&T Wireless does have SOM wi-fi hot-spots, but not too many.
Is it possible to create a network with all of WiFi's speed and ease of use benefits, adding a cellular networks' ubiquitous benefits?
Basically, can Cellular towers Send out WiFi at radiuses of 100 miles instead of just 300 feet?
Right now, to get a high blanket of Wi-Fi coverage, many many repeaters will need to be installed. This isn't really cost effective, so I doubt this will ever happen. The next solution would be to use a cellular like network with existing cell towers. The technology to get broadband speed of internet over a wireless network is not yet available.
We have seen . . . CDPD, then came GPRS.
The next revolution of wireless technology will be . . .
* EDGE/UMTS
* W-CDMA (wideband CDMA)
W-CDMA is what you are looking for. It is still a few years away from being released, but testing has begun and products are beginning to be developed and manufactured. W-CDMA is a wireless technology that is somewhat similar to GSM, but with a UMTS twist. W-CDMA will give people an estimated speed of 2MBPS. Which really isn't bad for internet browsing.
There have been some reports that w-cdma will be released sometime in 2004, but I personally believe that w-cdma won't be released until 2005 based on how fast GSM/GPRS took to get launched within the US. W-CDMA is the official 3G technology that will be adopted in Europe, Japan, and the United States.
Some more information on W-CDMA (aka 3GSM): GSMWorld: W-CDMA
Basically, does 3G technology or W-CDMA work with 802.11g?
Also, at a connection of only 2 megabytes per second, I don't know if one could conduct a steady video conference with someone. By steady, I mean a video conference with frames on both user ends coming out to be at least 20 fps.
Cellular networks use 800, 850, 1900 Mhz.
You will see cards that are BOTH cellular and wi-fi. I am sad to say, that I doubt we will see one for a Mac unless someone writes a driver or whatever for it. All the cards I have seen in production, and in developement, are for Windows/PocketPC.
Apple has written drivers for Bluetooth and WiFi, both standards. So why not write a driver for this -- if not now, then definetely within 5 years.
I have been seeing more and more aircards in the market that are made by many other companies. If they are not SIM locked, then all you need is a SIM card from a wireless carrier that offers GPRS and you are good to go.
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