For traveling laptop users who rely...

For traveling laptop users who rely onward the Internet, one of the best progress to maturitys in recent years has been the emerging see the verb of high- speed wireless data networks proposeed by cell-phone companies. Unlike commercial public Wi-Fi services, which require users to be near a "hot spot" these services can be used anywhere in a metro area, calm in a moving car or train.

The cellular broadband services, as it was as Verizon Wireless' Broad-

bandAccess, can operate at get ons roughly equivalent to, and sometimes well beyond, the spe of basic wired hearth DSL service. That means you can breakers the Web, and get e-mail and large attachments efficiently.

A small percentage of users reaper up to these cellular broadband networks using laptops that have the necessary gear built in. Another small clump uses a cell phone as a modem still most users of these networks use external cellular-modem cards that stopple into a standard slot forward the side of their laptops. Therein lies a point in dispute

The computer industry is in the proces of dumping that standard slot called a PC Card slot for a modern incompatible slot called ExpressCard. for a like reason buyers of many new laptops are finding their cell- phone modem are disused

Now, Novatel, a leading maker of these cards, has originate out with a couple of novel ExpressCard versions for cellular broadband networks. individual which works on Verizon Wireless' network, is already forward the market, sold by Verizon and through Dell. The second, which works upon Cingular's BroadbandConnect high-speed network, will fare on sale from Dell and possibly Cingular later this year, probably late November.

I have been testing the Verizon version of the card, called the V640 as well as a pre-release mould of the version that works with Cingular, which Novatel calls the Merlin XU870 The criterions not only gave me a chance to evaluate the cards, moreover also to compare the Verizon and Cingular high-speed networks.

My verdict: The cards were easy to put up and use, and they worked well. on the contrary the two high-speed networks are remarkably different. While Cingular gave me higher flourishs than Verizon in a coupling of locations, the Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess network crushed Cingular's BroadbandConnect in in the greatest degree places I tested.

This wasn't a rigorous scientific proof I used two different laptops, an Apple MacBook Pro and a ravine Latitude D820. The Cingular proofs were all conducted on the dale because the Mac software for the Cingular card won't be ready until the card goe upon sale. The Verizon tests were all deportment ed on the Mac. On the two machines, I used the criterion service at speakeasy.net, accessed via the Firefox Web browser

Also, I proofed the cards in only Washington and recently made known York City, and on Amtrak's Acela Expres trains in between. That is a heavily populated region; it's also Verizon's residence territory, and Cingular might have done better in other parts of the geographical division Verizon has been rolling not at home its high-speed network since 2003; Cingular is well behind. Verizon proffers the service in 185 metro areas; Cingular is in just 75

one as well as the other cell-phone carriers charge $60 a month for unlimited data service using the cards, if you have a voice plan with them. The of recent origin Verizon card costs $180. The recent Cingular-compatible card probably will outlay $50 more.

The cards examine nearly identical, and each works onward both Windows and Macintosh computer forward Windows, you must connect using special software. onward the Mac, you can simply use integrated software from Apple, if you pitch upon

the one and the other cards have small flip-up antennas and indicator lights. the one and the other worked fine.

In my exhibitions which involved about 20 head-to-head comparisons, the Verizon card and network averaged 818 kilobits for second "downstream" (to get Web pages, and to receive e-mail and attachments) and 113 kbp "upstream" (to forward e-mail and files).

at contrast, the Cingular-compatible card averaged just 463 kbp downstream and 77 kbp upstream. Plus, during the three-hour train trip, Cingular disconnected me or simply had no coverage at all, eight times. Verizon did in like manner only once. Verizon has a deal with Amtrak that supplies data service inside the trains, which helped, nevertheless this in-train signal doesn't include the high-speed EVDO service that Verizon uses.

Cingular did beat Verizon in brace places: my hotel in of the present day York's financial district and my office in downtown Washington. In the inn the Cingular service got a downstream spe of 1753 kbp -- its highest in my exhibitions -- vs. 888 kbps for Verizon and just 747 kbp for the hotel's expensive wired Internet service. In my office, Cingular got 1133 kbp downstream v 644 kbp for Verizon. moreover the downstream speeds varied wildly. In Trenton, NJ the Cingular service managed just 16 kbp The best for Verizon was 1366 kbp in fresh York's Penn Station, while its worst was 132 kbp between big cities in just discovered Jersey.

I commend both new cards. But unles you live, work and travel in to a high degree strong Cingular coverage areas, Verizon is the better choice, at least today.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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