Air Cards – Connections Everywhere!
Are you ready to have access while on the go or from a rural location? Are you travelling on business and need to connect with your office via the internet? Do you want that connection at a high speed?
You may want to check out the air cards currently available. It certainly seems like one can connect from nearly anywhere and quickly. An air card provides you with wireless high-speed broadband connections on the go or from a rural area. An air card is a modem and antenna that transmits and receives over the air without the need for a wireless phone or landline connection.
There are several different types of air cards with various hardware requirements. Service plans abound with companies such as Verizon, Cingulair, Sprint PCS, Sierra Wireless, and AT&T. You can compare some different air cards at this link. I am going to be discussing USB Modem Air Cards. These are designed for mobile or fixed wireless applications. Connections can be made via the USB port or a docking cradle. Air cards are compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. Most service plans cost around $59 a month for unlimited use.
Why would you want an air card? If DSL internet service isn’t available, an air card will provide a high speed internet connection for you. If you are in an area that only provides EDGE/GPRS coverage, then the speed is slower but it’s still going to be twice the speed of dial-up. This is a cellular broadband service. You will need cell coverage for an air card to function.
Some things to note, I have terrific Verizon coverage for my cell phone but it does not support my air card in the same capacity. I needed to obtain a Sprint Air Card because the service was better in my area. If you need help determining the best coverage for your location, you will find great service and assistance from the sales team at Best Buy.
There are several reasons why an air card is great for a business person. For starters, it saves money. When you have your laptop and your air card, you don’t need to pay the hotel internet access fee. You have your connection with you. It’s also a lifesaver when the power fails. I did experience this when a severe storm blew threw and the power failed. I was in the middle of a project. My air card and back-up battery kept on working and so did I.
It can be used in various locations other than a home office. It can also be used in a car, by a pool, when travelling, at a hotel, and on a train. I can speak from experience when I tell you that I remained connected to the internet while travelling on I-95 from Virginia to Florida recently. I can assure you that I wasn’t the driver but the connection was never lost which amazed me. It is a reliable product.
These companies make installation easy even for those technically challenged. Once you have your air card, you will need to install the software provided. After installation, place your air card into the USB slot or PCMCIA slot. Connect to the internet and you are working. If you only have access to dial-up service due to your location, you will be a very happy entrepreneur with your new found speed.
RESOURCE: If you need more information regarding air cards, I recommend checking out sprint products.
