Michael Knutson
12-02-2010, 09:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/laptop-data-plans-comparing-speed-price-and-value/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/...rice-and-value/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Now that Verizon's gone official with its LTE pricing for an initial launch in some 38 markets this Sunday, we wanted to take a quick look at how it compares to the other players in the laptop data market -- after all, how much you're paying month to month can be just as big of a determining factor (if not a bigger one) in choosing a carrier than the speeds you're seeing. So how do Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Clear, and Rover stack up? Let's break it down."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/lpt/auto/1291274845.usr17748.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>A clear winner? The answer is that nobody is really sure, and yes, I am confused. Downstream speeds (in theory) up to 21 Mbps, winner T-Mobile. Best price for unlimited data, $39.99 per month from T-Mobile. Coverage? Nobody is really sure, as the carriers are providing apples vs. oranges numbers, for example 282 launched markets vs. 250 million people covered. Huh? Some use speed throttling. Some provide/create mobile hotspots (MiFi), but not T-Mobile. Verizon does not have USB devices that work with Macs, and doesn't offer an unlimited usage plan. Sprint (EV-DO) charges $59.99 per month for 5GB, and 1GB of overage usage will cost you another $50 while the maximum price per GB with TMo (HSPA+) is a whopping $124.95. If I had to pick a plan, it'd be T-Mobile's contract-free unlimited plan for $39.99 per month. Anything less than an unlimited plan, beware those overage costs - a 200MB plan can be used up VERY quickly at the speeds offered.</p>