Great feel to be the first one to review this product.
The box that carries this Datacard has the title mentioned above, so no idea if this is a 3G device or something different but the manufacturer ZTE, China. Accompanying accessories are a CD, installation manual, USB extension cord and the EVDO device not to forget.
This product was recommended to me by Mr. Indushekar, PS to GM, BSNL. Initially, I was apprehensive to use this product as I don’t usually try anything unless there is sufficient review and feedback either on mouthshut or somewhere else, but gave it a try.
Here is the actual comparison with my 4-year-old AIRTEL MOBILE OFFICE. Not a worth comparsion with a cable broadband from BSNL itself. With a little bit of trial and error, got this installed on my laptop and things are like a stream from then.
* AIRTEL MOBILE OFFICE BSNL EVDO
*Connectivity Good Excellent
Loading of Webpages Very Slow High-Speed
Upload rate 1 to 3 kbps (With EDGE) 12-17 kbps
Download rate 2 to 6 kbps (With EDGE) 12-17 kbps
Connects at 460 kbps 144 kbps
Package Unlimited Unlimited
Cost 540/- per month 750/- per month(incl of 200/- rental for the EVDO device.
Purchase the device at 7k)
Device technology Fully Developed Underdeveloped
Remember only EDGE enabled phones give you the above transfer rate. GPRS phones have pathetic transfer rates.
*Remember, this product is still in its development stage. Mr. Indushekar says right now the bandwidth is only 144 kbps which is just 5% of the potential of this device. They are shortly increasing this bandwidth to 2 mbps. I feel this would get me an approximately 50 kbps of transfer rate and moreover can use it in entire Bangalore. Means, no roaming facility as of now.
I have tried some complex websites and programs like 4shared, skydrive, youtube, gmail, iGoogle, and the results were very satisfactory.
Overall, this device is best for those who need internet while they don’t have options for cable broadband or Wi-Fi.
But still Bangalore is still in STONE-AGE in the world of Internet compared to Internet services in Japan, USA, etc. It’s quite funny that we have to satisfy ourselves with above statistics.