O2 Offers UMTS Home Modem
While it's unlikely to make sense for most people, it appears that O2 is launching a UMTS modem for home broadband access. In other words, not a data card, but a standalone modem that can go with a desktop (or a router). The pricing is still based on minutes, though, so it's not likely to be very practical. There's been some talk in the past about using cellular 3G solutions as a replacement for DSL or cable modems, but right now it's really not the right market for either operators or consumers -- but could fill a niche market for a few people who have no other options. Derek: We see HSDPA as increasing the feasibility of this approach, but these wireless solutions will not be able to offer the monthly throughputs of DSL, and will have caps on their traffic. That said, in places without DSL or cable, or where mobility/portability is desired, this could work.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: 3g
