NewsUnlimited and Uncapped EV-DO Data Available From Cricket Wireless
Cricket Wireless has just rolled out a new data unlimited offering — $35 per month for a Kyocera KPC650 laptop data card and unlimited EV-DO Rev. 0 data access.
The regional CDMA2000/EV-DO carrier’s offering should attract significant market attention not only for its unprecedented low wireless data price (undercutting even Sprint’s SERO data card offering by $15/month), but also for the promise by Cricket that the data plan is truly “unlimited.” Verizon and AT&T have both been the targets of criticism from American consumers recently for their mobile data cards offered with unlimited data transfer, while the carriers actually impose a “soft cap” of 5GB per month on the accounts. Cricket’s data plan will be completely unlimited and uncapped, and Cricket representatives are encouraging users to replace their home broadband connection with it — similar to their previous push to get customers away from dedicated home phone lines in favor of Cricket Wireless phones with unlimited local calling.
It is worth noting that Cricket’s offering is only for slower EV-DO Rev. 0 service (with approximate transfer rates between 500 - 700 Kbps) while the other major CDMA carriers offer faster EV-DO Rev. A data cards and AT&T offers up 3G access on their speedy UMTS/HSDPA network. Cricket and their services are also available in many fewer markets, hindering nationwide coverage and ruling the low-priced option out altogether for many potential buyers. Still, it is hard to deny the appeal of an unlimited wireless data card plan for $35/month — hopefully Cricket’s move coupled with the recent $99.99/month unlimited plans launched by all of the major American carriers will spur greater competition for wireless data cards as well.
Cricket’s Kyocera KPC650 laptop data card runs $59.99 after rebates. The service is available only in Nashville, Spokane, Portland, Central California, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque.
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