| Provider |
AT&T |
Best
Buy Connect |
Cricket |
DataJack |
Hele
by Mobi PCS |
i-wireless |
Millenicom |
Ready
Mobile |
T-Mobile |
TruConnect |
Verizon |
Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go
|
Xanadoo |
Slingshot |
| Logo |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
No Longer Available |
Fee
(MB included) |
$15
- 1 day (100MB)
$30 - 7 days (300MB)
$50 - 30 days
(1GB) |
$10
- 7 days (200MB)
$35 - 30 days (1.5GB)
$50 - 30 days
(3GB)
$90 - 90 days
(5GB) |
*$30
- 30 days (1GB)
$45 - 30 days (2.5GB)
$55 - 30 days
(5GB)
$65 - 30 days
(7.5GB) |
$9.99/month
(200MB)
$19.99/month (500)
$29.99/month (1GB)
$49.99/month
(5GB) |
$30/month
(4GB)*
$40/month (6GB)*
$60/month (8GB)* |
$5
-
24hrs (100MB)
$20 - 7 days (300MB)
$30 - 30 days (1GB)
|
$59.99/month
(20GB)*
$59.99/month (5GB)**
$69.99/month (unlimited)*** |
$25
- 30 days (300MB)
$45 - 30 days (1GB)
$75 -
30 days (2GB) |
$10
- 7 days (100MB)
$30
- 30 days (1GB)
$50 - 30 days (3GB) |
$4.99/month
ACCESS FEE
+ 3.9 cents/MB |
$15
- 1 day (100MB)
$30 - 7 days (300MB)
$50 - 30 days (1GB)
$80 - 30 days (5GB)
|
$10
- 10 days (100MB)
$20
- 30 days (500MB)
$20
- 30 days (1GB)*
$50 - 30 days (unlimited)
|
$14.95
- 7 days
$24.95 - 14 days
$39.95 - 30 days
$74.95 - 60 days
$99.95 - 90 days |
| Equipment |
Any
AT&T
compatible modem/netbook or MiFi |
USB
Modem
$69.99
MiFi
($99.99)
|
USB
Modem
$0 - $19.00
MiFi
($149.99) |
USB
Modem
MiFi
$69.99 |
USB
Modem, MiFi
$30 - $130 |
USB
Modem
$49.99 |
USB
Modem
$0/$99 |
USB
Modem
$49.99 |
USB
Modem
$149.99 - $199.99 |
USB
Modem ($69.99)
MiFi
($89.99) |
USB
& Express
Modems
($189.99 - 269.99)
MiFi
($269.99)
|
USB
Modem ($79.99)
MiFi
($149)
|
Desktop
Modem
$99.95 |
PC
Card, USB Modem
$59.99 |
| Restrictions |
None |
None |
Speed
reduced to VERY slow if data allowance exceeded |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
Speed
reduced to VERY slow if 2.5GB allowance exceeded |
Speeds
up to 512Kbps |
None |
| Availability |
AT&T
nationwide network |
Verizon,
Sprint, or AT&T nationwide network |
Local
calling area only |
Sprint
nationwide network |
Oahu,
Maui, The Big Island |
Sprint
nationwide network |
Sprint/Verizon
nationwide network |
Sprint
nationwide network |
T-Mobile
nationwide network |
Sprint
nationwide network |
Verizon
nationwide network |
Sprint
nationwide network
|
TX,
IL, OK |
Sprint
nationwide network |
| Activation
Fee |
None |
$35 |
$25.00 |
None |
None |
None |
$49.99
+ $15 shipping |
None |
None |
None |
$25 |
None
|
$99.95
includes modem &
14 day starter card |
None |
| Network |
GSM |
CDMA/GSM
(Verizon/Sprint/AT&T) |
CDMA |
CDMA
(Sprint) |
CDMA |
CDMA
(Sprint) |
CDMA
(Sprint/Verizon) |
CDMA
(Sprint) |
GSM |
CDMA |
CDMA |
CDMA
(Sprint)
|
Proprietary
Network |
CDMA
(Sprint) |
| Operating
System |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows,
Mac, Linux |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows,
Mac |
Windows,
Mac |
| Notes |
New
unactivated SIM required
No overage available (compare to Verizon plans) |
Save
5% monthly when using autopay on a BBY credit card Rewards Zone
MasterCard
Use GoBi technology for multiple carrier compatibility
Also
offer 4G
Broadband |
*$30
plan available only in select retailers (ex. Walmart)
Note: Retail
plans (Walmart, Best Buy, Radio Shack) are $5 less & do
NOT
include nationwide coverage |
Doubles
as
memory stick with 16GB |
*
Requires Auto Bill Pay; otherwise
price is $5 more
Available in Hawaii only |
Read my
interview
with John Willis, i-wireless COO |
*Requires
$99.99 modem purchase
**Modem is free but must be returned upon closing account
***Can avoid modem purchase if bring own 3G device
Also offer 4G
Broadband
Read my interview
with Dennis Castle, Millenicom CEO & Owner! |
First
5MB free for the first day
Available in Walgreens stores
Read
my interview
with Fred Haumesser, Ready Mobile Co-Founder & EVP |
Any
T-Mobile modem works on prepaid |
Read my TruConnect
Prepaid MiFi
Review!
Read my interview
with Kevin Hamilton, TruConnect President & CEO! |
Sold
in Verizon stores and Best Buy
Also available for notebooks & netbooks with built-in mobile
broadband
Also
offer 4G
Broadband |
$50
plan is noted as unlimited UP
TO 2.5GB, then speed is throttled to virtually useless
MiFi
available online & at Best Buy and Radio Shack
*Available
only at Walmart
Read my Virgin
Broadband Review!
|
Still
investigating maximum usage limits.
When
allowance is reached, access is reduced to nominal
speed for rest of month
Includes 3 free email accounts. |
USB
modem has MicroSD slot |
