Option GT Max 3.6 EDGE/UMTS ExpressCard (AT&T) Review

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(More customer reviews)During the first 30 days the fragile antenna fell off. Went to AT&T store but they refused to replace it for "physical damage". Very nice of Amazon, I got a replacement in 30 days.
When I signed up in July 2008, I chatted with AT&T rep online and was told the 5G usage limit was a "soft" limit, AT&T would not enforce it, not to mention at that time the contract does not mention over usage charge. In February 2009, I found AT&T started charging penalty twice as much as Verizon does for over usage. I had to cancel it and got 29 day fee in advance for I canceled on the first day of the next billing cycle, thanks to AT&T since their cancellation department closes on weekend. I also have a early termination fee coming.
I called in AT&T several time to have the card unlocked so I can use it with other carriers or overseas but they told me they can only unlock card with an active SIM card so my card is dead.
AT&T coverage is not as good as Verizon's CDMA network. The so called "3G" is a fake. It is the half speed compared with CDMA. The very reason for me to get AT&T is the unlimited use. Now the deal is AT&T charges double penalty for usage over 5G than competitors.
Action item: will take the collection letters and dead air card to small claim court because AT&T altered the contract and failed to unlock the aircard as my private property.

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The Option GT MAX 3.6 ExpressCard is the latest addition to Option's family of Globetrotter LaptopConnect cards. Access the internet, business applications, and email with attachments while on the go. It is interoperable on both Cingular's 3G BroadbandConnect and EDGE networks, and has tri-band coverage in high speed UMTS/HSDPA areas as well as quad-band coverage on GPRS/EDGE networks. Other features include Advanced Receiver Technology (ART) which provides improved signal reception and reduced interference, and the retractable antenna design allows you to keep the GT Max 3.6 card inside your laptop while traveling.
With a combination of coverage to keep business, academic, and personal applications running smoothly, no matter where you are, this card is the perfect choice for anyone looking for seamless mobile connectivity. Offering performance and convenience to securely access email, corporate networks, business applications, and the Internet while on the road, the GT MAX 3.6 PC card offers total mobile freedom, and it is the perfect complement to Cingular data service.
Stay ConnectedWith the GT Max 3.6, you can access the Internet via EDGE or 3G networks. On a 3G HSDPA network anywhere in the world, the Globetrotter GT Max enables connection to the Internet at data speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps. In areas where HSDPA service is not available, theGT Max 3.6 still enables reliable and secure data connections over UMTS at up to 384 kbps, EDGE (up to 247 kbps) and GPRS (up to 85.6 kbps).
Laptop wireless cards from Cingular quickly transform laptops into mobile productivity tools. Part of Cingular's LaptopConnect suite of products, the GT Max 3.6 lets you to stay in touch with family, friends, customers, business partners, and co-workers while on the road using the laptop you already know and use.
To use theGT Max 3.6's broadband capabilities, you'll need a Data Connect plan from Cingular. You can select from a range of data service plans to fit your needs; with plans that give you an allotment of data usage per month as well as unlimited plans for heavy data users, Cingular offers plans that will work with just about anybody's needs.
Card Design and FeaturesThe design of the GT Max 3.6 incorporates Option's unique and patented "Butterfly" retractable antenna concept that frees you from the need to remove any part of your card from your notebook for transport. Need to stay connected while on the move? When moving between compatible network coverage, you'll experience transparent handover between HSDPA/UMTS and GPRS/EDGE networks with the GT Max 3.6.
Compatible with nearly all popular notebook PCs equipped with a type II PC card slot and the Microsoft Windows operating system, the GT Max 3.6 can to be used with multiple laptops or other supported mobile devices, making it a great choice for personal or business use.
UMTS Wireless Broadband Coverage Learn More about where UMTS coverage is offered.
Vital StatisticsThe Option GT Max 3.6 ExpressCard weighs 2.4 ounces and measures 3.7 x 2.1 x 0.2 inches. It operates on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as the 850/1900/2100MHz WCDMA (UMTS/HSDPA) frequencies.

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Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 - Wireless cellular modem - external - CDMA 2000 1X EV-DO Rev. A Review

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(More customer reviews)I checked this unit out in the Sprint store and was almost sold until I figured out how close I would come to the 5Gb limit and how much it would cost to go over. Just using Itunes and 5-10 NPR podcasts per day I would hit 6Gb a month easily and that extra Gb would cost 50$! Doubling my monthly bill! And that is not counting any other usage like Youtube or Warcraft or Windows updates or game downloads which can really eat up bandwidth.
It seems to me this is their business model, setting the monthly limit bar low enough to guarantee a large percentage of revenue from overage charges. Especially as the overage charge rate is way out of proportion to the monthly charge. i.e. if I am paying $60/mo for 5Gb, I would expect a 1Gb overage to cost ~$12 or maybe $20, but NOT $50! It seems another example of the great American business traditions of bait-and-switch or trick-and-trap or 'never give a sucker an even break'.
So I decided to wait until a more reasonable monthly limit is available at a reasonable price as I would rather not play the game of having to check my usage every day to make sure I dont get hit with a huge bill.
But if you are strictly an email/surfer type user then this sounds like the ideal solution, well enabling tethering on the Pre or the Iphone would really be the ideal, but that is purposely disabled by the phone companies it seems.


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With Sprint's Mobile Broadband Service and Wi-Fi capability, the MiFi 2200 for Sprint enables you to take full advantage of America's most dependable 3G network and provide wireless connectivity to your laptop as well as other Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as mobile phones, cameras, portable game consoles and more. This Intelligent Mobile Hotspot automatically connects to the the EVDO Rev A Sprint Mobile Broadband Network to give broadband Internet access to up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. You and your colleagues will be able to check email, access corporate intranets, download files, send pictures with a Wi-Fi-enabled camera, and access the Internet on any Wi-Fi-enabled device--even when you're nowhere near a traditional hotspot.
The MiFi 2200 for Sprint also offers GPS location capabilities, enabling you to take advantage of select location and mapping applications such as getting driving or walking directions or finding the best restaurant nearby.
Easily portable, the MiFi 2200 is about the size of eight stacked credit cards and weighs just over 2 ounces. Other features include two-way text messaging capabilities, compatibility with Windows, Mac and Linux PCs, VPN capabilities, and multiple Wi-Fi security settings. The lithium-ion battery provides up to four hours on the road or 40 hours of standby time, and you can extend the battery life of your work session by connecting the device to your notebook via a USB cable.
Sprint Service Business and home customers can choose between two Sprint service options for the MiFi 2200 (prices exclude taxes and surcharges):
$59.99 per month mobile broadband only plan
$149.99 per month Simply Everything Plan + Mobile Broadband (phone plus device connectivity)
Both plans include up to 5 GB per month and 5 cents per megabyte (MB) of usage over the 5 GB amount.
The MiFi 2200 modem is optimized for Sprint's Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revolution A (Rev. A) network, which provides average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits--and peak speeds of 3.1 Mbps where EV-DO Revision A is available--as well as average upload speeds of 350 to 500 kbps. When connecting within a Rev. A coverage area, the MiFi 2200 can download a 1 MB email attachment in about 8 seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds. Mobile users can access:
Email with large attachments
Corporate Intranet and Internet
Digital imaging
Location-based applications
Video/audio streaming
Rich messaging
Bandwidth intensive applications for sales and customer service
Easy installation and activation

MiFi 2200 Features Developed by Novatel Wireless, the MiFi 2200 lets you create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the reliability and high-speed Internet connectivity of the Sprint 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as notebooks, netbooks, cameras, gaming devices or portable media/MP3 players. Small enough to carry in your shirt pocket, it combines a variety of features into its streamlined form factor, including integrated internal CDMA and Wi-Fi antennas, advanced security and authentication technologies. When one device is connected through Wi-Fi, the MiFi 2200's rechargeable battery provides up to four hours of active use and 40 hours of standby time on a single charge.
Novatel's NovaSpeed technology improves simultaneous upload and download times so you can transfer large files with minimal interruptions or buffering. Keep would-be trespassers from using your connection with password protection, CDMA authentication and identification, dynamic Mobile IP (MIP) key update, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) firewall, VPN pass-through, and more. It also features auto-install, autoconnectivity, Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) support, VPN capability, and a removable lithium-ion battery. You'll also get two-way text messaging when you connect via USB.
WiFi Mode: 802.11 b/g for connection of up to 5 devices, with advanced security through WPA2-PSK, WEP and SPI Firewall
Type A USB port compatibility via included microUSB cable
PC compatibility: Windows 2000, XP and Vista and Mac OS X 10.4.0 or higher and Linux
Dimensions: 3.5 x 2.3 x 0.4 inches
Weight: 2.05 ounces
Battery life: Up to 4 hours of continuous use, 40 hours of standby time (1150 mAh lithium-ion battery)

How MiFi Works MiFi creates a personal cloud of high-speed Internet connectivity that can be easily shared among up to five users and a variety of WiFi-enabled devices through its connection to America's most dependable 3G network,* the EVDO Rev A Sprint Mobile Broadband Network. For example:
College student: A college student tucks her MiFi 2200 in her backpack to study with friends at the park and uses it to listen to streaming radio on her MP3 player while she connects to the school's Intranet on her laptop to get details on a class assignment. She takes a break to take pictures of her pals with her Wi-Fi enabled digital camera, and the camera uses the MiFi's signal to upload the photos to Facebook while she emails her completed report to her professor, then uses the device's GPS capability to find a nearby pizza place for lunch.
Business travelers: Two business travelers share a cab to the airport, then wait for their flight. Sharing the signal of one MiFi 2200 device that is safely tucked away in a briefcase, they download emails and surf the Internet on their notebooks and stream music to their MP3 players.
Portable retail: Five vendors at a local art fair have kiosks in close proximity. Accessing one MiFi 2200 device's signal, they each run a credit card point-of-sale device over WiFi and have secure backhaul.

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