Cingular Launches BroadbandConnect 3G Network
Dec 6, 2005, 11:30 AM by (staff)
Cingular today launched their long awaited 3G network in 16 metro areas. BroadbandConnect is the first HSDPA service to launch world-wide. HSDPA increases UMTS's download speeds to an average of 400-700 Kbps. Initially the high speed service is only available to laptop users through the Sierra Wireless AC860 and Novatel 720 PC Cards. The cards cost $100 with a 2 year contract. Unlimited data service is being offered for a promotional price of $60 per month. The service is available in Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland OR, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tacoma and Washington D.C. Cingular will launch HSDPA handsets at a later date. Additionally the company has said it will expand BroadbandConnect coverage to 100 markets during 2006.
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Comments
Any real-world results to share yet?
Would love to hear about real-world results with the PC cards that Cingular is offering. I have the Verizon EVDO service and it is pretty fast, but the latency sucks - it slows down software VPN connections substantially, and is probaly one of the reasons voice over EVDO isn't offered by VZW (just my opinion). Supposedly Cingular's connection isn't as latent. Any input from early adopters?
latency on my ev-do connection runs around 100ms. which is great compared to the 300ms on my old 1xrtt device, and worlds better than the 800-1100ms i got on gprs/edge. but still not as nice as the 25ms i get on my home connection.
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Yes, I picked up a card on Wed 11/23 & had an opportunity to test it in Chicago on that Friday night. I was shocked by the performance. My first test was over 1mb. I didn't believe it & ran six different tests with multiple test points. all teste...
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If it's low, I'm sold
The reason Verizon doesn't do voice over EVDO is that they can't - DO stands for Data Only - UMTS-HSDPA offers both voice & data capability. I tested a card at a customers location & had speeds of about 825 KBS.
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"one of the reasons voice over EVDO isn't offered by VZW"
no the main reason is that they are doing EV-DO REV O, which doesnt let you do anything with voice, BUT REV A does. (VOIP)
no the main reason is that they are doing EV-DO REV O, which doesnt let you do anything with voice, BUT REV A does. (VOIP)
Well I've had mine for 3 weeks. When it works it is great. When it only wants to connect to EDGE it makes me wanna puke.
Last week in Houston I was able to access HSDPA and the speeds were fantastic. This week I can barely access EDGE.
I'v...
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Last week in Houston I was able to access HSDPA and the speeds were fantastic. This week I can barely access EDGE.
I'v...
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Can the RAZR V3x come out now?
Hello,
Can the RAZR V3x come out now? Isn't this (3G) the network which the phone was going to use for its video capabilities?
Now it seems like they can actually launch the phone, correct?
Thank you,
AlfaRomeo
Can the RAZR V3x come out now? Isn't this (3G) the network which the phone was going to use for its video capabilities?
Now it seems like they can actually launch the phone, correct?
Thank you,
AlfaRomeo
Not unles Motorola redesign the radio to operate on 1900MHz (and mybe 850).
Why isn't...
Why isn't Atlanta included in the launch markets? I'm just curious as to why it isn't available there, because that was the first "market" that was ever equipped for HSDPA. Afterall, it was their initial test market.
Anyboy know for sure?
Anyboy know for sure?
Thats the same thing I want to know. Especially since Cingular is based in Atlanta and was the first city to have it up and running during the test trials. Atlanta should have been the first city to launch the service.
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Voice Enabled?
While Cingular's marketing tries to ignore the term WCDMA, HSPDA is a WCDMA variant, which means that it should be able to handle voice calls as well as data.
Is Cingular's WCDMA implementation going to allow voice calls?
Is Cingular's WCDMA implementation going to allow voice calls?
They're not trying to ignore the term WCDMA. Why would you call HSDPA WCDMA? Would you call EDGE GPRS? No. It's an improved upgrade over WCDMA so there is valid reason why they should (and do) "flaunt" the term HSDPA.
And yes, HSDPA supports both voice and data.
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Not right now. WHAT A BUMMER! Why didnt' they do it with EDGE either. It isn't like there isn't technology for it to work. 👿
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UMTS by itself has the ability to do voice and data at the same time. i have done it on my UMTS phone
$60--promotion price--a month?
Okay, I can see business users being okay with their company ponying up the $60 a month for this service, but what about everyone else? Unless you are a hard-core laptop-in-the-coffee-shop person, I can't imagine that anyone could afford (or want to afford) this.
I pay around $45 for my cable internet. I could see paying a few dollars more for a service I can take anywhere, and use anywhere, at least when they launch 3g in my area (Madison, WI)
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i have this actually. (not cingular's side, but the sprint's ev-do side) i think it is another tool to use in addition to my blackberry and to my high speed internet at home.. yes it isnt even close to the 6mb/s but it is another useful tool for trave...
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kin said:...
Okay, I can see business users being okay with their company ponying up the $60 a month for this service, but what about everyone else? Unless you are a hard-core laptop-in-the-coffee-shop person, I can't imagine that an
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They're price matching Verizon. If you think $60 is a lot, think about $80 back when Verizon first launched EVDO.
I'm predicting we'll be seeing a data price war coming on very soon, which will lower those costs quickly enough.
I'm predicting we'll be seeing a data price war coming on very soon, which will lower those costs quickly enough.
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if $60.00 is the promo price.......................
if $60.00 is the promo price what will the price be when it setttles in for a while? i'm not a cheap-o but i'm not sure if i would get this if its $85.00 plus. if it's $79.99 or lower which i hope it is i will make a definate purchase when it hits my area.
any assumptions 😕 🙄 any insiders know anything? 😲 hellllllllloooooooooooooo............
Excellent news
Good to hear their network has finally caught up. Now if only the coverage area would extend farther into North County San Diego.
yea, it is about time too. lol.
yea, i have the pc-card with sprint and it is quite fast.. my avg speeds are around 900kb/s-1mb/s. pretty good. going 50mph i also experience 900kb/s. on the cell edge i get around 700-800kb/s. my peak has been 2mb/...
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yea, i have the pc-card with sprint and it is quite fast.. my avg speeds are around 900kb/s-1mb/s. pretty good. going 50mph i also experience 900kb/s. on the cell edge i get around 700-800kb/s. my peak has been 2mb/...
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Theres wonderful EVDO coverage in N SD if you would like to use Verizon's network. 😁
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Oh boy
Once again a lack luster launch of a 3g data service without handsets to support it. lets hope that Cingular doesn't follow Verizon's example and wait 18 months after this launch to release handsets.
i'm with u on that one, but i think it will be a while 'til we see any really good HSDPA phones. I bet we'll see a few UMTS handsets really soon, but we'll probably have to wait for HSDPA. Think about it: they just started making the chipsets, but t...
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We've already seen the Samsung ZX10. Yeah, it's pretty basic for a 3G handset, but it's a start. The Nokia 6282 and N80 are on the way, so I would expect Cingular to release phones within the first half of next year.
i agree, but right now, this service is for computers and other handhelds that will be able to place those 2 pc-cards in. the phones will follow. i think they do this on purpose by releasing it first for pcs then for mobile phones.
