Riccochet vs other mobile Ethernet services?

[Chris Janicki]

Nextel also provides wireless data via an ethernet handset connection.  
Their service and prices are geared towards business users.  Coverage is 
ok.  Speed is 9.6kbps I think.  Their differentiating service is their 
1-to-many walkie-talkie-like feature, but its only useful if you and your 
associates are all Nextel customers.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

On 4/29/01, 10:18:58 PM, Mark Dulcey <mark at buttery.org> wrote regarding Re: 
Riccochet vs other mobile Ethernet services?:


> Scott Ehrlich wrote:
> >
> > At the last two LISA conferences I've been to, I've heard of Riccochet,
> > but never used it.   I have had the opportunity to use CDPD via Verizon
> > Wireless.
> >
> > What, overall, is available in the Massachusetts/New England area
> > (Blackberry, CDPD, Riccochet, etc)?
> > What is the coverage like for each respective service?
> >
> > It would be nice find a fast, reliable service using a single PCMCIA card
> > to establish the connection regardless of OS!

> Ricochet isn't available in the Boston area yet, and given the
> current financial difficulties of Metricom, it may never be. (The
> company has set up some sites in the Boston area, but the service
> has not gone live yet.)

> CDPD through Verizon is available. But it's slow, and the
> coverage is spotty. I have an OmniSky modem for my Handspring
> Visor, and it seems to be even-money at best whether it will work
> where I want it to work.

> The Blackberry RIM is available here, and coverage seems to be
> pretty good. Some people at my office had them, and loved them.
> But it's not a full-function wireless Internet service, and only
> works with their dedicated devices.

> Data services are available through Sprint PCS (CDMA, 14.4Kbps)
> and VoiceStream (GSM, 9.6Kbps). Both are very slow; coverage is
> as good as their cellphone coverage, which is good but not
> perfect. Rates are high. These work with a serial connection to
> your computer (the phone emulates a modem); although they only
> officially support Windows, it should be possible to use another
> OS. The Sprint version just gives you a "modem" connection to an
> ISP, so you also have to have a dialup account somewhere. Sprint
> has promised higher-speed wireless Internet later this year, but
> no pricing is available yet, and you will need to buy a new phone
> to make it work.

> My former employer, Broadband2Wireless, was working on a
> high-speed wireless network in Boston based on 802.11FH
> technology. But given their financial problems, that's probably
> never going to be complete, either, though service is available
> in the Back Bay, South End, and Beacon Hill. Info can be found at
> http://www.airora.com

> --
> Mark J. Dulcey               mark at buttery.org
> Visit my house's home page:  http://www.buttery.org/
> Visit my home page:          http://www.buttery.org/mark/
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