Price/ Fees:  

Laptop Computers

For purposes of this review, the term Laptop Computer refers to a number of portable computer. For details of these devices, check out our reviews of Laptops, Gaming Laptops and Netbooks.

AT&T’s DataConnect service is priced at $60.00 per month and includes 5GB of data transfer. That’s a good deal of data for most Mobile Broadband users but it’s not unlimited. To help in understanding how much data 5GB really is, here are some examples:

• One page email without attachments 3KB
• Five pages of text in MS Word 70KB
• Typical web page access 150KB
• 20 page PowerPoint presentation with text and minimal graphics 500KB
• 3 minute song download 2-4MB

If you’re likely to use more than 5GB of data per month, please take special note of the carrier’s outrageous charges for data beyond the 5GB limit, explained below.

Data cards, often known as AirCards or BroadBand cards are available from AT&T for as little as free or as much as $49.99 with a qualifying 2-year service contract. Other charges associated with the service are a $36 activation fee and a $175 Early Termination Fee. The ETF is reduced by $5 for each month of the contract that is completed.

Over 5GB Warning

Using the examples above, you can calculate that 5GB per month is likely enough for most people. The cost for data transfer beyond 5GB goes up astronomically so hold on to your hat! While not dishonest, we find AT&T’s approach to defining charges for data usage over 5GB to be deceptive. They show the cost in terms of kilobytes (KB). There are 1024KB in 1MB and 1024MB in one GB. In more understandable terms, that makes the cost just over $0.49 per MB or a whopping $503.31 per GB. Imagine…$60 for the first 5GB and more than $503 for the sixth! By comparison, the same overage from Verizon Wireless would run $256 which is still way too high, or just $51.20 on Sprint.

Smartphones

With rapidly increasing frequency, people use their smartphones for broadband data access rather than a laptop computer. AT&T’s cost for unlimited data access on a smartphone is $30 per month in addition to the cost of the voice plan for customers who also have voice service on the phone. The charge is $5 more monthly for data only. The 5GB data limit, detailed above, doesn’t apply to smartphones. You can also add unlimited messaging for $20 more.

BlackBerries and some other smartphones can also be used as a tethered modem, which is to say that it can be connected to your laptop to instead of a data card. They provide the free software which allows for making the connection but there is an additional $10 per month charge for this capability. If you choose this option, however, you’re back in the realm of the dreaded 5GB limit…if you use your smartphone for tethering a laptop you’re limited to 5GB of data transfer monthly before incurring the unconscionable overage fees. The Apple iPhone 3G cannot be used as a tethered modem.

Wi-Fi

AT&T’s data connect plan offers access wireless access to their extensive network of Wi-Fi hotspots. This offers two major benefits. First, Wi-Fi provides a much faster data connection than even the fastest 3G speeds. Additionally, if you’re connecting your laptop using Wi-Fi, it doesn’t count against the 5GB monthly data limit. Connecting to a Wi-Fi wireless network at work or home offers the same advantages as connecting at a hotspot.

Network Speed:  

AT&T claims to offer “the nation’s fastest 3G network” and, in general, that is accurate. With a 3G connection on AT&T, you can expect typical download speeds of 700Kbps – 1.2Mbps. That is somewhat faster than the average speeds that you’re likely to get with competitors. We say, however, that the statement is only generally accurate because the maximum speeds that can be attained by Verizon Wireless, Sprint and Alltel are higher than that clocking in at around 3.1Mbps. Since you’re not likely to attain that speed very frequently, it’s fair to say that AT&T is typically fastest. As a point of interest, AT&T’s HSPA technology has the capability to be much faster than that; however, for a number of reasons, particularly infrastructure costs, don’t hold your breath waiting for that potential to be realized.