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A laptop AirCard is a wireless modem that provides broadband internet access by communicating with cell phone towers. Users must subscribe to a service plan from a cell phone provider. The advantage is that users can connect anywhere there is cellular service. Sierra Wireless manufactures different types of branded cards for different mobile carriers. Consumers need to choose their carrier before purchasing one. Before using a laptop AirCard, consumers should carefully read the terms of service agreement.
A laptop AirCard® is a wireless modem manufactured by Sierra® Wireless that is designed to be inserted into the ExpressCard or PC Card slot of a notebook computer. The card provides broadband Internet access by communicating with cell phone towers rather than phone lines, cables, or WiFi® networks. To use this modem, an owner must first subscribe to a service plan from a cell phone provider. This could be the same company that provides your cell phone service or another company.
There is one major advantage to using a laptop AirCard® over any other form of online service: People can connect to the Internet anywhere there is cellular service. They don’t have to rely on spotty wireless hotspots in hotels or cafes when they’re away from their home or office. Computer users can simply plug in the card and connect from a parking lot, construction site, city car or taxi.
Sierra Wireless manufactures different types of branded cards for different mobile carriers. Each carrier uses proprietary protocols, so consumers will need to choose their carrier before purchasing one.
An unlimited plan is likely to be the most affordable option for people who expect to use the service frequently. This may be a good choice for business executives who require access on the go or for individuals who do not have Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or cable access available but have cell service in the area. In this case, cellular broadband services can be used at home and on the go.
In some cases, a laptop AirCard® may only be required in an emergency when no other form of online access is available. For situations like this, people can purchase a 24-hour pass relatively cheaply, though prices vary. This is the smallest increment of time sold and expires after 24 hours, regardless of how many minutes were actually spent online during that period.
Conveniently, people can use the card on business trips or vacations, purchasing a block of time in line with the travel period. This could be a week, two weeks or a month, for example. The card would grant online access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of lodging or geographic location, assuming cellular service is available.
In this sense, when purchasing a cellular broadband plan, consumers need to be sure that the coverage area meets their needs. In some cases, roaming technology covers extra regions. This is an agreement between carriers to share cell towers as a way to extend range, and if a call goes to a tower owned by a competitor with a roaming contact, the user may be charged an additional fee for the minutes used on those towers. If people require access in regions governed by roaming agreements, they should find out whether or not the plan under consideration includes roaming charges.
Once a computer user finds a carrier with the right coverage at the right cost, they can choose the card for that carrier that supports the required cellular technologies. These cards, like cell phones, can support various frequency bands, so people who will be traveling abroad should choose a card that supports international technologies or tri-band and quad-band frequencies. If the card will only be used locally, the buyer must ensure that it supports the fastest technologies available.
Before using a laptop AirCard®, consumers should carefully read the terms of service agreement. In many cases, carriers impose a download bandwidth limit to protect customers from slow service due to bandwidth issues. Each megabyte downloaded over the limit will incur an additional charge. Those planning to download extremely large files, amounting to several gigabytes, should read the fine print first.
