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Earthlink 1xRTT Rollout
Ernest Lilley 06/30/03

Model: Earthlink CDMA2000 1xRTT Network Access
Product Website / Spec/PR
Availability: see website for map
MSRP: Base Price 5 MB $24.95
(not incl. Card or Fees)

Thanks to the introduction of high speed CDMA access by cellular carriers, internet access providers can now begin offering users access to their networks in more than just living rooms and coffee shops.  Now you can get unwired anywhere the CDMA network reaches (see coverage map) at speed "up to" 144 kbps.

Now, that's not as fast as your Cable Modem, but it's more than twice as fast as your 56k modem, and even though you won't often max out the speed, being able to get dial-up speeds anywhere you go is quite an advance.

If you want to learn about CDMA 2000, which is an advanced cellular data standard, go to the official site: http://www.cdg.org/index.asp For the moment though, all you need to know is that it's the fastest wireless game in town...though of course, that won't last.

The downside to all this is price and availability. When when the service is fully set up, you won't be able to get it in rural areas, and Earthlink's pricing clearly reflects the "early adopter" stage of the technology...that is, it's steep. Further, though I really don't get the reason why, you can't use it with your Pocket PC, Mac, or Linux device. Now, while I only feel mildly sorry for the Mac/Linux crowd, understanding that their numbers don't support the early effort...I just don't get the omission of PDAs. Isn't that where you'd need it most?

Unlike the Verizon all-you-can-eat data plan, Earthlink is charging by the MB,  and they estimate that with a basic plan you can: Send 150 1-page emails, surf 75 basic web pages, Transfer/send 1-3 average data files per month. Which means no MP3 downloading or movie trailer viewing from your laptop or you'll be adding an additional 1.1¢/KB before you know it.

That would translate into a typical 3MB MP3 file costing you a whopping $33, in additional charges, a 100 KB text only email would set you back $1.10. Better to stick to the allotted charges, which break down to between $4.99 and $1.80 / MB.

For those prices, you're still better off grabbing a latte and surfing on a fixed rate plan at a coffee shop.