Telstra launches USB modems for Next G wireless

Telstra have finally launched two external USB modems, one designed for mobile use at the same pricing as the PCMCIA solution, and the other a ‘fixed’ wireless USB modem needing an external power source offering cheaper pricing. 

                     
             Telstra’s BigPond Next G USB Mobile modem

Telstra’s 3.5G wireless broadband voice and data network, dubbed ‘Next G’, was only launched a couple of months ago and offered wireless coverage 100 times greater than competing 3G networks, with download speeds averaging 550k to 1.5Mbps.

Access to the network for wireless broadband is possible through a PCMCIA card or through 3.5G handsets via USB cable or Bluetooth connection.

We’ve been able to test the Next G wireless broadband throughout various locations in Sydney, and for the most part Next G access at the advertised speeds has been regularly achieved, with speeds dropping to ‘EDGE’ or 2.75G speeds of 100kbps+ on occasion, generally well inside a big building with lots of concrete getting in the way of a good signal, although competing slower 3G cards usually have the same issues, except they’ll take you to much slower GPRS speeds of around 40-45kbps or slower.

Now Telstra have launched two USB alternatives. One is a USB modem ‘stick’, similar to a USB flash drive. This just plugs into a USB port and draws power from your laptop or desktop computer.

However if you are want to use the Next G service with a desktop computer, you’re better off going with the desktop USB modem that gets power from a regular power socket. The advantage is that you get cheaper access to data, meaning the desktop USB wireless modem is a better deal for people, especially in regional areas, who want to sign up to 1Gb or 3Gb plan at cheaper rates than the PCMCIA or USB stick modem offers.

                
                    BigPond Next G Desktop USB modem

Unfortunately the pricing for all three modems is still way above what you’d be paying for an equivalent ADSL or cable service in terms of the amount of data you’d be able to download. Even at the reduced prices for the USB desktop modem, it’s still expensive, and as people in regional areas have previously complained about the pricing, chances are they’ll still complain even though it is cheaper. Pricing is listed at the end of this article.

However, if you are running a business or otherwise need access to wireless broadband, Telstra’s network does offer speeds and network coverage that no competitor can currently match, with a convenience factor that is hard to beat.

Even Gartner, the famous analyst firm, has come out this week stating that competitors wanting to introduce WiMAX services have real competition on their hands now that Telstra’s Next-G service is up and running, and is soon to be upgraded to speeds of 3.6Mbps, then 7.2Mbs and finally ‘up to’ 14.4Mbps, although for the 14.4Mbps speeds you will need to get a new modem.

That said, the existing PCMCIA card is already compatible with a 7.2Mbps service, so when that comes on stream PCMCIA card owners will be ready to get a speed boost. This is also the case with the two new USB Next G modems.

Garner also talked about how companies are now deploying wireless workforces and wireless solutions now that the Next G network is up and running.

In theory, prices will also come down, as competitors expand their own 3G coverage, competitors offer 8Mbit ADSL services in competition with Telstra or WiMAX services come on stream in parts of Australia in 2008. But until that happens it is unlikely Telstra will have any reason to drop prices as their service is uniquely positioned to offer wireless broadband in almost any city or regionally populated area you can name.

One advantage of the USB modem ‘stick’ over the PCMCIA card is that it will not heat up your laptop’s palm rest as PCMCIA modems tend to do. This heating up business can be very annoying if you are typing away merrily on a computer as your hand is being heated up.

This isn’t something that Telstra really has any control over, as it is the PCMCIA modem and the laptop itself getting warmer. But a USB modem ‘stick’ will solve this problem, although you will have a USB modem sticking out of the back of your PC. That, however, isn’t really that much of an issue.

I’d rather the USB modem that a warm-to-hot palmrest, although this can also depend on the type of laptop you’re using and where the PCMCIA slot is positioned. If positioned under the keyboard, as opposed to the palm rest as it is on my laptop, the heat factor may well be much less of an issue.

This is something you’ll have to determine yourself, although my suggestion is that the USB modem is a simpler and better option, and even gives you the ability to easily connect it to a desktop PC if ever required – you can’t do that with the PCMCIA modem.

BigPond Group Managing Director, Mr Justin Milne, is obviously excited by the new modems with the press release saying that “together with the Mobile Card for laptops launched on October 6, the new Windows-compatible devices make wireless broadband access a reality for virtually everyone living within the Next G network area, Australia’s greatest 3G network”.

Justin Milne’s direct quote is that: “Telstra is committed to broadbanding Australia and with our mobile and desktop BigPond Wireless Broadband options anyone in our extensive coverage area can connect to the Next G network”.

Milne continues: “Each BigPond Wireless device provides access to our superfast plans, with download speeds averaging 550Kbps to 1.5Mbps, and peak network downlink speeds of up to 3.6Mbps”.

When it comes to pricing, Milne says that: “The USB card will match BigPond Wireless Mobile Card pricing, with plans based upon time, speed or downloads. Wireless modem plans start from $39.95 a month for a 256kbps/200MB 12-month plan with four other options providing faster speeds and more downloads”.

Milne continues: “This is great news for customers without access to wired broadband services, such as ADSL or Cable, or those customers who want freedom to relocate, such as students and tenants”.

That is great, but students and tenants wanting to download a lot of data, even with the desktop USB modem, won’t be so happy at the 1Gb and 3Gb limits and the associated pricing, with the cheapest plan only offering a paltry 200Mb which can be swallowed up by some operating system and Internet security updates.

Still, at least it is available, and download limits have to be increased in the future – people will simply need to download more in the course of their everyday lives. It looks like students and tenants that need to download tens of gigabytes of data will just need to go on an ADSL or cable service, and put up with the transfer fee and the associated wait to move their connection to another premises.

Milne continues that “The USB card also means you can swap between an office or home PC and a laptop for when you need to be on-the-move. You can even connect when travelling with roaming available in thirty countries”.

The roaming pricing is not mentioned, so we can safely expect it will be expensive as all roaming is today. But for those who are travelling overseas, especially business users, this roaming ability is naturally very useful indeed.

Milne then highlights that the USB modems are especially handy for laptops without PCMCIA slots, which is a surprisingly large number these days, including MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Milne says: “Our new Modem and USB Mobile Card have the added advantage that they can be used on any Windows laptop or Windows desktop PC with a USB port, including laptops that don’t have a PCMCIA card slot.”

Specifically on the subject of Mac compatibility, Milne says that “A Mac-compatible version will be available early in the New Year [2007].”

So… cheaper pricing is available for those wanting access to Next G through the fixed wireless USB modem that needs external power. That is good news, although not for mobile USB users hoping for cheaper pricing. Premium services and wireless convenience comes at a cost, prices only come down later through increased competition.

Here’s the pricing you can expect to pay on the service. Visit http://shop.telstra.com for more details:

BigPond Wireless Broadband Modem (Desktop USB modem) – $249

BigPond Wireless PCMCIA or USB modem – $299

DESKTOP USB MODEM PLAN PRICES:

On a 12 month plan, Desktop USB modem users will pay $39.95 for 200Mb at 256kbps speeds (known as G Fast), and $49.95 for 1Gb of data at 256kbps. Excess usage charges are at 15c per megabyte.

On a 12 month plan, for ‘Super G Fast’ speeds of 550kbps to 1.5Mbps, Desktop USB modem users will pay $49.95 for 400Mb, $79.95 for 1Gb and $149.95 for 3Gb of data download. Excess usage charges are at 15c per megabyte.

PCMCIA OR USB MODEM PRICES
On a 12 month plan, PCMCIA or USB modem users will pay $49.95 for 200Mb at 256kbps speeds (known as G Fast), and $79.95 for 1Gb of data at 256kbps. Excess usage charges are at 30c per megabyte.

On a 12 month plan, for ‘Super G Fast’ speeds of 550kbps to 1.5Mbps, PCMCIA or USB modem users will pay $79.95 for 400Mb, $109.95 for 1Gb and $199.95 for 3Gb of data download. Timed plans of 10 hours for $29.95 and 20 hours for $49.95 at Super G Fast speeds are also available. Excess usage charges are at 30c per megabyte.