HSDPA: BigPond vs Vodafone - Reviews - Cool Gear - Wireless

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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HSDPA: BigPond vs Vodafone

By David Flynn, CNET.com.au
November 15, 2006
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/coolgear/wireless/soa/HSDPA-BigPond-vs-Vodafone/0,139023505,339272235,00.htm

High-speed mobile broadband has arrived! We compare Telstra's BigPond Wireless Next G service with Vodafone's HSDPA-enhanced 3G network.

At first it was enough just to remain online while you were on the road. But the joy of go-anywhere convenience came with a caveat: even 3G failed to match the speed of the cheapest and slowest home ADSL line.

Now wireless broadband has hit its stride, with the mobile carriers leading their super-charged networks in a new race for the road warrior's business. Telstra and Vodafone are first off the starter's line, with real-world speeds that bend the needle past 1Mbps. So if you want downloads to hurtle rather than turtle over the airwaves and onto your laptop, read on to find the best mobile broadband bet.

BigPond Next G Wireless Broadband Mobile Card
Fancy a 1.3Mbps broadband pipeline direct to your notebook, without a cable in sight? The new BigPond wireless data card makes good on Telstra's lofty promises for its Next G network.

Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G HSDPA Card
Vodafone's enhanced notebook PC Card delivers what the mobile telco calls 'business class 3G broadband' -- but until more of the 3G network is upgraded with HSDPA, most users will remain stuck in economy seats.