Alltel Wireless is just a ghost of the huge wireless company it used to be. The company operates in just a small part of the country, but still offers nationwide data access through roaming. Here we look for the best Alltel wireless Internet card available from the company.
Overview of Alltel Wireless Internet Card Plans
The majority of the Alltel Wireless network was acquired by Verizon Wireless in 2008. Because of this, readers should be aware that
Alltel Wireless does not offer coverage to the entire United States, so users who are interested in subscribing to Alltel services should check their coverage area first to avoid any disappointment or misunderstanding. Alltel Wireless services only rural areas in six American states, meaning that many readers will not be able to make use of even the best Alltel wireless Internet card.
Right now, Alltel ranks in about 8th place among U.S. wireless carriers.
Fortunately, for Alltel Wireless customers, the company offers a National Wireless Internet plan for a monthly
fee of $59.99 (coverage, price, and availability may change without notice). The service offers Internet connection speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps and a 5 GB data usage cap. Because Alltel’s native service area is relatively small, the company presumably has roaming agreements with other carriers that enables them to sell nationwide data coverage.
Here we look at the wireless Internet access devices available and try to determine best Alltel Wireless Internet card.
Huawei EC168 USB Modem
The Huawei EC168 has a swiveling connector that helps it fit even in the tightest spaces into any OS X or Windows XP or Vista laptop or desktop
computer to provide Internet connectivity through the Alltel data network at speeds up to 3.1 Mbps. This device has a built-in microSD card reader for portable storage and is EVDO ready. The cost of the EC168 USB Internet card with a contract is $199.99, but is offset by a $50 online discount and a $50 mail-in rebate, so the net cost is $99.99.
This device is not available with any Alltel prepaid wireless plan.
Huawei EC360 PCMCIA Internet Card
The Huawei EC360 is a PCMCIA Internet card that supports connections of up to 2.4 Mbps. The card requires a computer with a PCMCIA Type II slot and is compatible with Windows XP or Windows Vista computers only. The card has a swivel antenna to improve reception and can accept an external antenna as well.
The cost of the EC360 PCMCIA Internet card with a contract is $199.99, but is offset by a $50 online discount and a $50 mail-in rebate, so the net cost is $99.99.
This device is not available with any Alltel prepaid wireless plan.
PCD UM185 Data Card
The PCD UM185 Data Card is a USB device featuring CDMA and EVDO connectivity and works with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 as
well as Windows XP and Mac OS X. UM185 data card connects at 3G speeds where available and connects to any computer USB port.
The cost of the UM185 PCMCIA Internet card with a contract is $199.99, but is offset by a $50 online discount and a $50 mail-in rebate, so the net cost is $99.99.
This device is not available with any Alltel prepaid wireless plan.
The Best Alltel Wireless Internet Card
We name the UM185 USB data card as the best Alltel Wireless Internet card because it supports Windows 7, the latest version of the Microsoft operating system and because it offers 3G connectivity which right now is the fastest standard for wireless Internet connectivity across the country.
References
“Huawei EC168 ”
“Huawei EC360 ”
