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T-Mobile announces 3G USB stick with usage meter and notification system

I have the T-Mobile G1 here in the Puget Sound area, but only get 3G coverage in King County. Now that T-Mobile has a 3G network in place, even though it is still quite limited, they announced the T-Mobile webConnect USB Laptop Stick. The USB Laptop Stick is priced at $49.99 with a 2-year contract, $99.99 with a 1-year contract, and $249.99 with no contract. Like the other wireless carriers you can consume up to 5GB of data per month for $59.99. T-Mobile also includes their WiFi HotSpot access with your data plan. If you are in an area without 3G, the Laptop Stick works over EDGE.
Written by Matthew Miller, Contributing Writer

I have the T-Mobile G1 here in the Puget Sound area, but only get 3G coverage in King County. Now that T-Mobile has a 3G network in place, even though it is still quite limited, they announced the T-Mobile webConnect USB Laptop Stick. The USB Laptop Stick is priced at $49.99 with a 2-year contract, $99.99 with a 1-year contract, and $249.99 with no contract. Like the other wireless carriers you can consume up to 5GB of data per month for $59.99. T-Mobile also includes their WiFi HotSpot access with your data plan. If you are in an area without 3G, the Laptop Stick works over EDGE.

The webConnect USB Laptop Stick has a microSD card slot that supports up to 8GB cards. The photos show it has a rotating end so it can easily be adjusted to fit in your laptop. The Connection Manager is integrated into the USB Stick and T-Mobile seems to be listening to customers since the software includes a usage meter and a notification system that can be setup to send you a message when you reach 80 percent of your 5GB limit. Now this is customer service and a very welcome feature of this new card. There is no mention of Mac support yet for the card so you may need a Windows PC to use the USB Laptop Stick.

T-Mobile also stated that their 3G network is now available in more than 120 US cities with plans to double the coverage in 2009 and reach more than 200 million people.

T-Mobile USA continues to aggressively expand its 3G wireless broadband services, and the company’s 3G high-speed data network is available in more than 130 U.S. cities as of the end of 2008. In 2009, the company plans to double the population currently covered by its high-speed network to reach more than 200 million people in the U.S., which includes expansion to an additional 100 cities by the end of the year.

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