Sprint Mobile Card for MacBook Pro

1. Verizon has a solution now:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewP honeDetail&selectedPhoneId=2407

2. EVDO capable phone w/ DUN Bluetooth connection to MBP.

Here are a few examples for using a phone:

Macbook Pro on the Verizon EVDO network with a Treo 700p
Link: http://theonda.org/articles/2006/06/12/the-fastest-way-to-get-a-macbook-pro-on-t he-verizon-evdo-network-with-a-treo-700p

How To: Use Sprint/Samsung A920 as an EVDO Bluetooth Modem with Mac
Link: http://www.nodrm.com/?p=185

The verizon card is an ExpressCard, and it supports Mac OS 10.4.x---why don't you think it will work?

I own the new Verizon Novatel V640 Expresscard...I have had it for about two months and it works flawless and its pretty fast!

I have a 2.0GHz macBook pro and I use a Sanyo A900 or A940 with the Sprint unlimited Data EVDO plan ($40/mo) tethered to my MacBook via USB. I get 30-100KB/sec d/l speed. Works great with bluetooth too.

I just looked into this and Sprint may be releasing an expresscard 4th Q this year , that's going on second hand info from the EVDO forums.

They probably will, IMHO.

there IS a card slot in the MBP. it's expresscard/34 format NOT PCMCIA II format. Sprint offers PCMCIA II cards and a USB adapter only (unless you tether to a cell phone via USB or bluetooth).

the Verizon card (Novatel V640) fits in the MBP, all others (currently shipping cards) do not.

the fastest current option is the V640 from Verizon. that's what i am using this very minute.

hope this helps.

thx.

- sean

I just stumbled across this: http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20060831.html

So Cingular's card should be out later this fall, and work on Macs. Of course, I'll believe it when I see it....

Mark

Here is a really useful map of EVDO coverage:
http://www.evdoinfo.com/images/stories/sprint2006_04USAmap.png

I've been using my Sprint phones as modems for almost six years... since the first-generation data network where you were lucky to get a 14.4 connection. 🙂

Tethering your phone with a USB cable is cheaper, simpler, and more universal than a special card (because it will work on any of your Macs, because it just requires a USB port). With any EVDO-capable phone, you will have to pay for a phone-as-modem plan ($40/mo on top of your voice service). This wasn't always true, but it's reported that all EVDO-capable phones have their data crippled until you pony up for the data plan.

You just need a USB cable that will work with the phone -- o find one, Google the model name of the phone they're lending you plus phrases like "usb tethering" or "usb modem" or "phone as modem."

You can also get the phone working as a Bluetooth modem (Google the same way, with bluetooth rather than usb). But keep in mind this will limit your connection speed, since Bluetooth's own bandwidth is much lower than the data speeds you typically can get with EVDO.

Good luck!

Another thing to remember is that your coverage will actually be better than implied in the EVDO map I linked to above -- the bright yellow areas are EVDO, but the dark green areas are the previous-generation data network, and most EVDO phones can "step down" very gracefully. So when you leave a bright yellow area and cross into the dark green, you don't lose the ability to connect, you just get a slower speed. I'm typing this from a previous-generation Sprint phone connection in a dark green area.

the card sticks out 1 7/16". it is 1.25" wide and about .75" tall.

it works well. my biggest complaint is the flashing green light is a distraction out of my peripheral vision.