Every cell phone company offers some kind of mobile broadband option as do non-traditional companies like Clear. Speed and quality of service will be a function of your distance to the local cell phone tower. Most companies also cap service to about 5 gigs of data per month. Good enough for general browsing, email, etc. but not for things like video streaming. Latency is also an issue for first person shooter games. At least with a 3G connection, video chat will likely be problematic.

The companies offer a couple of different devices for connectivity, the most common being a USB stick, which means you can't share the connection (or at least easily). Some of the cell phone companies offer a MyFi device which essentially functions like a WiFi router, allow multiple devices to connect. Clear offers a desktop device, much like a traditional router. It's not intended to be mobile but they offer a USB stick option as well. The device will run you $50-$100, usually with some kind of contract.

If you go this route, I would urge your to read the fine print carefully, especially the part about data caps and network management. You also want a liberal return policy should the device not work as anticipated.

I was at a Verizon booth at a show and saw one of those 2 of those MyFi devices. The salesman said they work anywhere you can get a cell phone signal.

The 3G was $30.00 a month plus tax/contract. The 5G was $50 plus tax/contract. I was told you can connect up to 5 computers up at the same time. The 3G provides up to 6 hrs of access a day.

I'm seriously thinking of picking one up and dumping my $cable internet. I'm also thinking I'd like to use it on vacation when I might not want to connect to a hotel's WiFi or want to look up something at a rest stop.

Mike_Kaiser-Thanks for the additional info! Very useful.

if it is available in your area you might look at this option it is usually a little cheaper.
The Data Jack

I have had one of the att ones for a year or so, I am going to be terminating it since I no longer use it. It worked ok for what I needed it for, traveling with my netbook and during the time we had to wait for our home service to be put in at the new house. It does have a 5Gig cap which was not a problem for me. The price is around $70 a month with all the added on fees, the usb stick itself was supposed to be free, I paid $100 for it up front then they would send me a visa card good for $100 which would equal free well I never got the visa card so I paid $100 for the darn thing.
I was not happy and when I talked to the customer service I found pretty much everything the sales person had told me at set up was a lie and they said I must not have done the rebate form right to not get the money back, well I did it exactly as they told me to so perhaps those directions were lies too who knows. I was tied to a contract so have had to keep it and not using it.
so be very very sure before you commit to a contract!
Which is why I like the looks of the data jack there are no contracts you use it as you need it but you do have to pay for the usb device.

I have good Verizon service in my area, so to avoid being tied to a 2 year contract, I bought a Verizon 3G modem on EBay. I took it to the local Verizon store, had it activated, and have been using it for over 2 years. The monthly cap is 5GB of data use, which is more than enough for me, but if you stream videos or lots of radio, you might go over your limit, and you would pay dearly. It has been satisfactory for my use, but during evening hours I find that it does slow down when there is heavy usage on the tower where I get my signal.

I was in the same situation as you and used Wild Blue for about two years also. I find the 3G to be somewhat faster than satellite, and it is not affected by fog, rain, snow, or other weather events as satellite is. When one doesn't have a lot of choices, this does fill the need. By the way, I have used it when traveling and was able to pick up a good signal everywhere I went up and down the eastern US.

Thanks for the replies.
thank you for the info....a contract is definitely what I don't want on something that I don't even know will work for me or not. I am leaning towards Virgin mobile because of no contract, $40 a month for unlimited usage and unlike data jack, I can buy the Virgin device locally. Which is important if it doesn't work for me.
Grandms, did you keep your satellite service or is the Verizon modem all you use?
Murphy

I am leaning towards Virgin mobile because of no contract, $40 a month for unlimited usage and unlike data jack, I can buy the Virgin device locally.
Hopefully you can verify that you have Virgin Mobile Coverage at your residence address before buying and trying what might end up being a useless device.

When I checked on line for coverage for Data Jack, it showed that it was available in my 'area'. When I actually talked to Data Jack, they checked my specific street (road) address, and found that that there was no coverage at my home address.

I'm thinking I might have also talked to Virgin Mobile (because of no contract) and there was no coverage at my residence, but it was available about 2-3 miles from here. Living in the boonies has its occasional drawbacks.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: 2010 Wireless Broadband Reviews : Service Comparison

My new 3G Internet network is satisfactory at this time, and I am being patient as it goes through its growing pains. The connection speed up/down falls through the day; more than it should. Right now it is 849kbps down/286kbps up. At 6:00 p.m. last night it was 86kbps down/43kbps up. Fortunately, their engineers are working on it, and in fact contact me when they need a report of readings as I am in my rural county's Bermuda Triangle.

It's kind of hard to be choosy when there is nothing else available but an antique DUN at 5kbps.

Please be aware of overage charges they can be pretty stiff.

DA

I only kept WB satellite service for about a month until I was sure the 3G service was going to work for me. The tower where I get both my phone signal and the modem signal is a little over 2 miles away, but I do not have clear line of sight because of trees and a small hill, but I still get a good, strong signal. That is most important---signal strength. Virgin Mobile just uses bandwidth from one of the major carriers---they do not have their own service. Don't believe the "unlimited" service. Once you go over 5GB, they will throttle your speed to no better than dialup. I second what Sue suggested about checking to make sure you can get the service where you live before buying anything. I have read both good and bad about VM.

Thanks again. I appreciate the info. I understand what you are saying about the coverage area. I currently have ATT cell phone service and it is spotty at best. Some days I have great coverage and no problem making calls, other days and times of day, I have to walk around to get a signal and even with a signal, the calls sometimes just drop off. There is a cell tower less than 2 miles from my home but ATT says it is "not one of their stronger towers". My issues with ATT cell coverage is another post and am still working on THAT issue. And that is why I am being cautious about the mobile broadband. I am happy with the Wildblue service I get (since DSL is not available here either) and want the mobile broadband to use with my new laptop. Even if I have to drive up the road 2 miles to get a decent signal, I want to be able to video chat with my daughter once in a while. VM website says that they offer coverage at my address, but so do the others. It is just so hard to make choice without spending mega bucks and getting locked into a long term contract when you don't know if it will even provide what you are looking for.
Sigh.....just don't understand why in the year 2011 and with all the mindboggling technology available that this country still has areas that are not accessible to basic high speed internet and decent cell phone coverage!
But if you live in the "right" area, you can control your home TV from your cell phone while in another state!!! I have problems calling my next door neighbor.....go figure.
Thanks for letting me vent and for all the info. Once the snow melts I will get out and see what I can do.
Murphy

I am happy with the Wildblue service I get (since DSL is not available here either)
LMBO...now that is something that is seldom heard said.

Even if I have to drive up the road 2 miles to get a decent signal, I want to be able to video chat with my daughter once in a while.
Well that should certainly work, or else maybe 'visit' while you are in town.

If you think of it, keep us posted as to how it all pans out.

Sue

I have Sprint 3G/4G service. It uses a little USB puck plugged into my netbook. My city has 4G, and it is WONDERFUL. However, my home is about a block out-of-range of 4G coverage, so I only get 3G there. The very odd thing is that 3G seems to interfere with my wireless USB mouse. Mouse and 4G coexist peacefully.

I am considering Virgin Service as I am on a slow dial up and nothing else is available to me. No contract and unlimited usage, and $40.00 a month. I know it is available to me.
Anyone else use it and have any comments, good or bad?

Sue