Qwest Launches In-House Mobile Broadband Service

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

7:55 am on May 26, 2007 | Category: Telecom Services, Internet, Wireless, Cellular

U.S. telephone and broadband provider, Qwest Communications, is moving into the wireless data market, with its own cellular broadband service for laptop computer users.

The new 3G internet offering is part of Qwest’s MVNO contract with Sprint Nextel, and therefore runs over the Sprint’s EV-DO cell phone network. It is available at a price of $70 per month on a two-year contract, with the compatible Mobile Broadband Card costing an additional $50.

Qwest is the only “Baby Bell” company in the United States to run its wireless business as an MVNO, meaning that it resells mobile voice and services using the spectrum and network facilities of another carrier.

2 Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post.

I believe this will turn out to be mostly a non-story, much like Qwest wireless phones (also a Sprint MVNO). The only customers this will make any sense to even consider will be current Qwest customers, and even then it is a stretch. Sprint direct offers better pricing, more devices at lower prices. For example, the card Qwest is selling for $50 is free here: http://moremobileinternet.com/evdo-modem-cards Also, tech support is always a huge hassle if you are not dealing with the actual carrier.

Comment by steve — May 27, 2007 #
Very true — it can be pretty difficult for MVNOs to seriously compete with tier-one carriers in mainstream markets like wireless data.

Comment by Jeremy — May 28, 2007 #