Low-cost or prepaid GPRS for US usage?

I have an iPAQ PDA that runs Windows Mobile 2003 and it sports a Compact
Flash (aka CF) slot and an SDIO (Secure Digital) slot, either of which can
support a GPRS/GSM module to sport a SIM for GPRS use.

I usually have Internet access where and when needed, but I happen to be
on the road away from the Internet, be it in the car or wherever, I'd like
to perform ad-hoc Internet connectivity.

What companies offer low-cost GPRS SIMs (or phones from which I can swap
the SIM)? I do live in a major city in the US, so coverage is not a
problem. But if I did travel, roaming would be nice. I know T-Mobile,
at least, as good GPRS roaming agreements for almost seemless data
coverage, but I can't justify spending more than $30/month for GPRS.

I don't mind paying per kb, but I would mind having to pay to re-up a
prepaid card after 30 days, unless the re-up amount is small, like a
couple of dollars at best. Otherwise I'd be better off with postpaid.

T-Mobile is obviously an option, but what are my other choices?
Relatively cheap GPRS that is available most anywhere that won't be used
much (mostly weekends at best and at times when I'm simply in the car)?
I'm likely going to get the Enforma GPS/GPRS CF module that is quad-band,
but would need to elusive SIM.

Thanks for any leads.

Scott

At 28 Oct 2006 12:08:12 +0000 Scott Ehrlich wrote:
>
> I have an iPAQ PDA that runs Windows Mobile 2003 and it sports a
Compact
> Flash (aka CF) slot and an SDIO (Secure Digital) slot, either of which
can
> support a GPRS/GSM module to sport a SIM for GPRS use.

Unless the prices have crashed recently, I find those cards far to
expensive compared to just buying a GPRS-enabled phone and connecting via
bluetooth. My old Dell Axim X5 had no BT or GPRS connectivity, and a BT
CF card cost a fraction of what a GPRS card cost.
>
> I usually have Internet access where and when needed, but I happen to
be
> on the road away from the Internet, be it in the car or wherever, I'd
like
> to perform ad-hoc Internet connectivity.

Who is your current cell provider, how much is internet access from them,
and do they offer a phone that can connect to your iPaq? You may be
trying to reinvent the wheel here.
>
> What companies offer low-cost GPRS SIMs (or phones from which I can
swap
> the SIM)?

Nationally, two- T-Mobile and Cingular.

> I do live in a major city in the US, so coverage is not a
> problem. But if I did travel, roaming would be nice. I know T-Mobile,

> at least, as good GPRS roaming agreements for almost seemless data
> coverage, but I can't justify spending more than $30/month for GPRS.

Data is cheaper when it's added to a voice plan, so melding your cellular
voice plan with a data add-on would be preferable to starting a new data-
only plan as far as cost is concerned. Both T-Mo and Cingular's data
only plans are about $50/month.
>
> I don't mind paying per kb, but I would mind having to pay to re-up a
> prepaid card after 30 days, unless the re-up amount is small, like a
> couple of dollars at best.

A minute ago you were willing to spend $30/month!

Cingular's $25 cards are good for 90 days. Data is $10/MB IIRC. T-Mo
doesn't offer data on prepaid, other than a select few WAP sites.

> Otherwise I'd be better off with postpaid.
>
> T-Mobile is obviously an option, but what are my other choices?
> Relatively cheap GPRS that is available most anywhere that won't be
used
> much (mostly weekends at best and at times when I'm simply in the car)?


I use T-Mobile (on a PDA phone) for voice and data. T-Mo has a port-
limited unlimited data plan for $6/month on top of a voice plan. (It has
access to POP and IMAP e-mail, and web browsing via a proxy server you
set up on your PDA. File downloads, and individual webpages are limited
to 1MB in size.)

> I'm likely going to get the Enforma GPS/GPRS CF module that is quad-band,

> but would need to elusive SIM.

I assume the Enforma is the same module everyone else sells under there
own brand (Audiovox, Pretec, etc.) which lakes 850MHz support, limiting
coverage in the US, and doesn't support EDGE (150kbps "real world" speed
vs. the 30-50kpbs GPRS offers)

FWIW, I'd rather have a BT phone that supports 850MHz than a CF card that
doesn't.

> Thanks for any leads.
>
> Scott

Good luck!

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