Gizmodo
It's finally here! Sprint upgraded its Power Vision Network beginning in San Diego today, rolling out EV-DO Revision A, a faster version of the EV-DO (EVolution-Data Optimized) wireless broadband technology.
This new version is significantly faster than its predecessor, averaging upload speeds of 300 to 400kbps compared to the 50 to 70kbps of garden-variety EV-DO. The difference in download speeds won't be nearly as dramatic, however, increasing from the current 400-700kbps to a slightly faster 450-800kbps. The company says its entire wireless broadband network will be upgraded to the faster EV-DO Revision A by the third quarter of next year.
But they didn't just roll it out to San Diego. Pricing, how it compares to Verizon's EVDO offerings, and entire list of cities after the jump. Is EVDO Revision A in your hometown? Click to see.
This kind of speed won't come cheap. Sprint announced pricing of $49.99 a month for unlimited access with a two-year subscriber agreement and mail-in rebate. Unlimited data use without a plan is $79.99 per month. The company also announced it would offer its Sprint Mobile Broadband USB Modem by Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 early next month for $249.99 or $49.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement and mail-in rebate.
Ouch. There's no word on whether Verizon plans to follow suit with its widespread wireless broadband service. But that $50 price for a limited access is $5 more than Verizon charges for its nearly-ubiquitous conventional EV-DO unlimited access.
Sprint announced these markets will launch EV-DO Rev A this year:
1. Baltimore
2. Boston
3. Buffalo, N.Y.
4. Denver
5. Detroit
6. Hartford, Conn.
7. Kansas City, Mo
8. Las Vegas
9. Los Angeles
10. Milwaukee
11. Newark/Trenton, N.J.
12. New York City
13. Philadelphia
14. Pittsburgh
15. Providence, R.I.
16. Sacramento, Calif.
17. Salt Lake City
18. San Francisco
19. Seattle
20. Washington, D.C.
Sprint launches first EVDO Rev A Network [mobility today]
Comments
where are you getting your pricing info? there is no mention of charging more for rev a than rev 0, which would put it at $59.99/month. and where are you getting that verizon charges $45? current pricing on sprint is $60 for access regardless of voice plan, vzw charges $60 w/a voice plan and $80 without? i believe the $49.99 pricing youre quoting is card pricing, not service.
that pricing sounds all messed up. you say its $49.99 then its $79.99, and then reference verizon at $44.99? there is nothing to say that it will be more expensive than rev 0, which is $59.99 with no voice plan restrictions. verizon charges $59.99 for rev 0 with a voice plan, $79.99 without. the $49.99 pricing is probably the equipment pricing, and sprints three current rev a aircards are free after rebate or $99.99
Current mobile broadband users will probably be grandfathered into the Rev A. If I'm not mistaken, the $49 dollar price tag is the same as Sprint's charge for the current EVDO standard.
What Sprint needs to acquire for their customers is data roaming - My 6700 becomes useless if it cant access the data network to provision.
Too bad this announcement isn't for WiMax instead...
Chicago, the third largest market in the country, gets shafted? WTF? And yes, I am using Sprint.
Wow... Salt Lake this year?
Now all I need is an ExpressCard/34 card that works with the new network (I really don't want to use an external USB device on my MBP).
And if it's as good as they say, maybe later on next year a Treo 700p will find it's way into replacing my (still pretty great) Treo 650.
how does Hartford get Rev A before San Diego?
No, Houston :(
Minneapolis??? NOOOOO!!! Damn this midwestern wasteland!
Ok, so San Diego gets Rev. A and here in IL we still don't even have EVDO! Get on the ball Sprint and Verizone...Im waiting to switch...you get me some EVDO love and I'll give you way to much of my hard earned dolla dolla bills yall.
We're still waiting for one of our dedicated forum participants actually IN san diego, to confirm that Sprint's Rev-A service is truly performing to expectations... if you want to know the same, make sure you check out the best EVDO FORUMS at http://www.evdoforums.com
Thanks to the many participants on http://www.EVDOforums.com we're learning that Rev-A may already be lit up in many more cities than just San Diego!
If you want to see where Rev-A has been spotted, and how fast people are flying, check out this thread:
http://www.evdoforums.com/thread3234.html
Gizmodo is more about 'fast publish' than 'correct publish' ... hate to say it, but it's true. The pricing mentioned is neither correct or consistent.
Even though the U720 has not officially been announced by Sprint yet... we have them for sale!
http://www.evdoinfo.com/The_News/Latest_News/Novatel_Ovati...
We also know that the device is compatible with Intel-Macs!
http://www.evdoinfo.com/The_News/Latest_News/Novatel_Ovati...
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