Mobile Internet One of the more active segments of the mobile communications market is full Internet access on the go. Sprint (NYSE: S)'s Novatel Ovation U727 cellular USB card connects directly to your laptop's USB port and delivers (depending on coverage) broadband connectivity over EVDO-A. It also includes GPS, so you can run applications like Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Earth in real time, showing your location.
But now that everybody has their own Internet-connected laptops, Wi-Fi enabled multimedia players, and Skype phones, they all want to get online. nexAira's NexConnect 3G Wireless Broadband Router can handle both USB and PCMCIA Type II cellular modems. The unit comes with both a 12-volt adapter for the car and a 120-volt wall wart for the hotel, beach house, or campground. Plug your cell card into the router, turn it on, and everyone in the car can be online at the same time. Of course, cellular coverage being what it is, you may want to have multiple contracts and carry more than one modem. When you're out of range of carrier A, just swap out the modem for carrier B, and (if you're in range for carrier B) you're back online. Autonet Mobile takes all the guesswork out of in-car Wi-Fi. The company is working with car manufacturers to offer its system as an option in new cars, and it is now available as a rental car add-on through Avis. Autonet Mobile handles the carrier connections for you, automatically switching to the most appropriate carrier for your location. The company monitors signal quality and takes care of keeping you connected wherever there is a signal to be had.
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