Increasing its presence in the wireless high-speed data game, Verizon Wireless launched its CDMA2000 1x EV-DO BroadbandAccess service in Las Vegas, providing users in the greater metro area with access to average data speeds of between 300 and 500 kilobits per second. The carrier said the Las Vegas network covers the Strip, North Las Vegas, Lakes of Las Vegas, Green Valley, Henderson, Summerlin, Southern Highlands, Aliante and Spring Valley.
Verizon Wireless noted that the service would be initially accessible using its PC 5220 card that retails for between $150 and $200 depending on the length of contract signed and is also compatible with the carrier’s 1x-based NationalAccess network when a customer is outside EV-DO coverage. Pricing for both networks include unlimited monthly access for $80 per month with one- or two-year contracts.
The carrier originally launched its EV-DO network in San Diego and Washington, D.C., last October as part of a network trial and announced earlier this year that it would begin rolling out the network in select markets beginning this summer with plans to cover nearly all of the country’s major markets by the end of next year as part of a $1 billion network upgrade.
AT&T Wireless Services Inc. launched its UMTS-based high-speed wireless data network earlier this month in four markets, including Detroit, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle, and said it expects to expand the service to Dallas and San Diego later this year. The carrier said the network provides network speeds of between 220 and 320 kbps and introduced a pair of UMTS-compatible handsets and a PC card, though both devices fall back to AWS’ GPRS network when outside of UMTS coverage instead of its higher-speed EDGE network.
Sprint PCS recently announced it would begin rolling out EV-DO services later this year with plans for nationwide coverage by the end of next year. Nextel Communications Inc. is offering a Flash-OFDM wireless data network in parts of North Carolina, and Cingular Wireless L.L.C. said it expects to begin trialing UMTS services in Atlanta later this year and hopes to begin rolling out services by the end of next year.
