Well...for qualifying cellular voice plan customers with a contract (natch) at least:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/promotion/controller?promotionType=miniPac&action=miniStart

Down from $79.99 to $59.99 per month for unlimited data/internet use. Makes it a tad more affordable for folks to get this sorta wireless broadband anywhere service on Verizon's EVDO Data Packet network. Which I've been using for some time now and is pretty slick, IMHO.

Eventually I think you'll see even lower prices. For some folks, this might be a better deal than DSL or even cable. And could even provide service in some areas where DSL or cable broadband is not available. Not to mention its portability.

What's the throughput on EVDO? At 12000 feet from the CO, I'm lucky to get 960/348 kbps from DSL and I refuse to pay a cable company one cent. There's a local WiMax-like service offering somewhat higher speeds, but with a $600 initial equipment charge.

What's the throughput on EVDO?

At the time of this post, I clocked a download speed of 311, which is about the slowest I ever see. I usually average in the 400 to 700 range, with occasional spurts of 1mb.

It depends on the network activity in your area. I'm at LAX right now so that's probably why it's in the slower range. Probably a lot of EVDO users around here...business travelers and all.

I have no idea what the upload speeds are.

If you enter an area where EVDO is not available, it automatically drops down to the NationalAccess network which is available almost anywhere. On that I get consistent download rates in the 120 ballpark. Still 3x faster than dialup. But most major cities I travel to have the EVDO BroadbandAccess network (and the list of cities is growing fairly fast).

Definitely not a sole broadband option for the power internet user, but certainly adequate and very fast for the average pedestrian web user. I still maintain DSL (1.5) at work and home and have BroadbandAccess mainly for on the road on my laptop. I love it! I can get Broadband wirelessly from almost all the cities I travel to. I use it in taxi cabs, in parks, in theme parks! ;) It's like Wi-Fi anywhere you go. No more T-Mobile and Starbucks! :)

Just found out Verizon has expanded their previous list of over 50 major cities, to now also include EVDO BroadbandAccess in the following 7 new markets:

Baton Rouge, LA; Charlotte and Raleigh Durham, NC; Denver, CO; Louisville, KY; San Francisco and Sacramento, CA.

In addition to the all the full city coverage areas, Verizon has also expanded BroadbandAccess network coverage into a total of 65 U.S. airports. See:

http://news.vzw.com/news/2005/08/pr2005-08-26j.html

Baton Rouge, LA; Charlotte and Raleigh Durham, NC; Denver, CO; Louisville, KY; San Francisco and Sacramento, CA.
Does anyone else get the inescapable urge to start singing when they see "Baton Rouge, LA"?

Does anyone else get the inescapable urge to start singing when they see "Baton Rouge, LA"?

I do NOW. Thanks, Andrew. I blame you.

Adrienne
And Columbus is the capital of O-HI-O...