Prepaid Wireless Internet is Here!
Are you ready for prepaid wireless Internet? Prepaid wireless isn't just about cell phones anymore! One exciting element that's evolved in the wireless industry over recent years is wireless Internet, often referred to as wireless broadband. So what is it? Think of your high speed Internet access at home that you get either thru your television cable provider or phone service (referred to as DSL). Now take that high speed Internet experience and make it mobile! Note that this is very different from what people have traditionally talked about when they discuss wireless Internet or WiFi. WiFi allows you to take a broadband connection like cable or DSL, and broadcast wirelessly so that you can connect to it with your laptop or other WiFi enabled mobile device without having to plug any cords into your computer. The wireless Internet that I speak of here is actually cellular, which means that you're not confined to your home or Starbucks HotSpot as is the case with WiFi. You can access the Internet wherever you would normally have cell phone reception; now that's mobile Internet! And even better you can now have prepaid wireless Internet with no contracts.  Although you'll see some laptops with wireless (cellular) Internet built-in, the most common approach is to buy a wireless/ broadband card that slides into a slot on your laptop, or a USB modem that plugs into any computer with a USB connection. Depending on your wireless provider, and the type of card or modem you have, you'll experience speeds very near what you get at home. About a year ago I actually canceled my high speed cable Internet, and I am now exclusively using my broadband card. If you're the type of person who's always on the move, you're likely to find this service absolutely invaluable! And if you're not interested in being committed to one carrier with a contract, or just want to try it out, prepaid wireless Internet is now available! Compare Pay As You Go Broadband Plans now. One note to consider, however, before you cancel your broadband service with your local cable/DSL provider: If you're downloading large amounts of data continuously, and for long periods of time, you'll find that wireless Internet won't perform as fast as you might expect. Also, most providers will have clauses, even on unlimited plans, that restrict you from file sharing or continuous streaming (ex. Internet video streaming). It's really best for data bursts (as opposed to continuously high speed downloading). I use it for the following activities and don't notice any speed issues:
 Not all networks are created equally, so consider that AT&T (GSM), for example, may not provide speeds that are as good as Verizon or Sprint (CDMA). At the time of writing this, CDMA technology can offer far greater speeds than can current GSM-based implementations. You can visit Mobile Broadband Technology & Speeds for more details on this topic. You can also read an interesting discussion about the Definition of Broadband. If there's anything additional that you'd like to learn that you don't find on these pages, please feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to help. I also recommend that you compare the reported speeds on the provider's website, and be sure that they have a 30 day, or similar, return policy so that you can take it home and test it out in your normal environment. Until recently the convenience of wireless Internet was not available to prepaid customers. Not any more! There are a small number of companies that offer prepaid wireless Internet/Broadband cards and service for reasonable prices. If you're traveling in the U.S. for only a short period of time, or only have a need for mobile Internet on rare occasions, there's another option for you to consider. You can look at aircard rental services. Renting means that you can not only avoid a contract (compared to postpaid), but you can also avoid having to invest in purchasing the equipment (compared to prepaid wireless Internet). Learn more about Wireless Broadband Rental now! Also, if you're traveling abroad and looking for the best deal on a local prepaid broadband service, compare mobile broadband plans by visiting International Wireless Broadband.
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