More options coming in the world of wireless broadband

In July, Sprint launched its wireless broadband service in 34 markets, with plans to expand into 51 cities by the end of the year.

The initial rollout targeted airports and business districts in major metro areas. As a result, Sprint is catching up with Verizon, which had taken an early lead in the wireless broadband market. Verizon now provides service in more than 40 cities, including Madison.

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Both companies use the Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) wireless standard, which offers average download speeds of 300-700 Kbps, depending on the number of users on the network. This compares favorably with the lowest-end wired (DSL and cable) broadband options at 384 Kbps.

For companies that conduct an appreciable portion of their business outside the office, wireless broadband offers both mobility and sufficient bandwidth to get some real work done. The service uses specialized cards that work with most PC laptops, so users don't have to deal with the frustrations of trying to compose e-mail on tiny screens and tinier keyboards.

The development of EV-DO is a small step in fulfilling the original aims of third-generation (3G) wireless networks: fast, affordable and widespread wireless Internet access. However, it's likely that the next revision of EV-DO could result in throughput that's equivalent to wired access. In fact, the technology promises to deliver upload speeds of 1.5 Mbps � significantly better than today's DSL and cable networks, which are typically capped at 512 Kbps � although it won't be commercially available until late next year. The higher upload speed will allow users to communicate more effectively by enabling activities such as file sharing and videoconferencing that are currently impractical.

Meanwhile, cellular companies like T-Mobile and Cingular, which use a competing network technology, are busy with their own broadband access plans. It's likely they will launch plans with speeds that match or exceed EV-DO capabilities by the end of this year.

Both types of technologies accomplish the same goal: Business travelers no longer have to hunt for coffee shops, airports or other wireless hotspots to check e-mail, connect to the corporate network or download documents.

With competition heating up, many current Internet access providers are turning to yet another standard: WiMax.

In addition to providing mobile broadband access, WiMax will be used in "fixed" wireless locations. It will extend both the throughput and range of the popular WiFi standard that's used in home wireless networks and commercial wireless hotspots.

WiMax is being supported by major hardware vendors such as Intel and Motorola, but commercial implementation of the mobile variety is still a couple of years away. A few cities are experimenting with fixed, pre-WiMax networks that will be compatible with future technologies once the standards are finalized.

For now, business travelers are limited to the Verizon/Sprint duopoly. However, the rapid pace of development in wireless broadband, particularly in the WiMax arena, will result in more options and lower prices.