iPass launches Wi-Fi and 3G service for travelers
If you're operating without the benefit of an expense account, staying connected while traveling can be an annoyingly pricey proposition. A new service from iPass enables you to connect via Wi-Fi, 3G cellular data, and (no!) dial-up if necessary, all at pretty reasonable prices.
iPassConnect gives you access to Wi-Fi hot spots in more than 95,000 locations worldwide, as well as 3G mobile broadband service in the United States. Wi-Fi hot spots include nearly 500 airports, 20,000 hotels that include chains such as Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott, and more than 70,000 retail locations such as Starbucks and McDonald’s.
The Wi-Fi plan costs $29.95 a month for service throughout North America, and you don’t need to sign an annual contract. If you’re a global type, iPass offers service in 80 countries for $44.95 a month. In either case, install the software and you’re good to go.
Handier yet, the Wi-Fi/3G combo plan will give you a far better chance of constant connection. For $69.95 a month (plus a $125 charge for the 3G card), you get both services across the United States. A spokesman for iPass declined to say which wireless carrier it uses to provide the 3G, but I’m pretty sure it’s Sprint. This plan requires that you sign a one-year contract, and you’re limited to 5GB of downloads per month (that’s pretty common among 3G providers). Also, if you wade into the fine print, you’ll see that iPass prohibits you from streaming video when using the 3G service, but I checked with the company and no one will really know if you’ve got a little YouTube habit. The restriction is intended to keep subscribers from peer-to-peer file-sharing sites like BitTorrent.
A couple of caveats: Currently, iPass can only provide a PC Card device for the 3G cellular data connection and it works only with Windows Vista, XP, and 2000. A spokesman says the company is considering an ExpressCard option for newer laptops.
The service also isn’t yet available for Macs, but that should be coming down the road, too.