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Net Xpress: Prepaid mobile broadband now available

July 20, 2009|SHEILA J. CLARK

Finally, someone is offering a mobile broadband solution for the rest of us. Virgin Mobile - best known for its prepaid phone service - has launched a new prepaid broadband service called Broadband2Go. This service seems ideal for a casual mobile broadband user.

There are several great things about the Broadband2Go service. First of all, Broadband2Go's service is available without a contract. The service has no activation fees and users can change plans as needed.

The initial cost of the Broadband2Go service will come from the purchase of the Novatel Wireless MC760 dongle, which retails for $150. This USB dongle is made available exclusively at Best Buy stores.

After the dongle purchase, a Broadband2Go user has four levels of prepaid mobile service from which to choose. The four levels of Broadband2Go service available for purchase are: $10 for 100MB used within 10 days, $20 for 250MB used within 30 days, $40 for 600MB used within 30 days and $60 for 1GB used within 30 days.

TopUp cards for the Broadband2Go service can be purchased at Best Buy. Users also can TopUp online at Virgin Mobile's Web site.

System requirements for the Broadband2Go service are a computer running Windows XP or Vista, and an open USB port.

According to Virgin Mobile's site in its Q&A section, while not officially supported, Macs and Linux computers may also work with the dongle. However, the dongle must first be setup on a Windows PC.

Broadband2Go operates on the Sprint Nationwide network. Learn more about Virgin Mobile's Broadband2Go service at Click to see Web site.

Microsoft security updates

Microsoft has released six security bulletins with three rated as critical and three rated as important for its July security updates. The updates address flaws in Windows, Virtual PC, Virtual Server, Microsoft ISA Server 2006, and Microsoft Office 2007. Read more at Click to see Web site.

Other security warnings

A critical flaw was discovered in Mozilla's latest Firefox 3.5 Web browser. The flaw lies within the JavaScript compiler. At the time of this writing, no patch was available, however the company was working on a fix. Read more at Click to see Web site.

Net buzzz

*Microsoft plans to open retail stores later this year and in 2010. Part of Microsoft's plan is to open these stores close to Apple stores. Read more at http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10287499-56.html and Click to see Web site.

* Reminder: Yahoo! is closing its free GeoCities Web hosting services on Oct. 26. Anyone with a free Web site on GeoCities must either upgrade to their paid service or move the Web site prior to that date. After that date GeoCities Web sites and files will be gone. Read more at Click to see Web site.

Netbook spotlight

Asus has released the newest members of its Eee PC netbooks - the Eee PC T91. The new Eee PCs are unique because they are now tablets featuring swivel 8.9-inch touchscreens. A 10-inch model called EeePC T101H will follow shortly.

Other features of the Eee PCs include an Intel Atom Z520 1.33GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB SSD and Windows XP Home. The tablets also will include built-in 802.11b/g/n WiFi, 10/100Mbps Ethernet and Bluetooth and a built-in Webcam.

Learn more about the new Eee PCs at Click to see Web site.

E-mail me at sheila@amnews.com; fax me at (859) 236-9566; or write me snail mail at The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, KY 40423-0149.

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