Sprint, Verizon Stick It To Rev. A

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 9/29/2007

San Diego –Novatel’s Ovation USB stick modem, said to be the industry’s smallest CDMA 1x EV-Do Rev. A wireless modem, will be available through Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel.

The modem doubles as a 4GB USB drive equipped with microSD card slot for memory expansion.

The modem works with any computing device with a Type A USB port, including most desktops, notebooks, and tablet PCs, the company said. Out of the box, they support the Windows (Vista, XP, 2000), Mac and Linux operating systems.

Users can buy the modem from

Sprint plans October availability of its version through its indirect and business sales channels and online at

Over Verizon’s EV-DO Rev. A network, the modem provides average download speeds of 600kbps to 1.4Mbps with average upload speeds of 500-800kbps. At those speeds, a 1MB file can be downloaded in about eight seconds and uploaded in less than 13 seconds, Verizon said.

On the Sprint Rev. A network, the modem delivers download speeds from 600kbps to 1.4 Mbps with peak speeds of 3.1 Mbps, and upload speeds run from 350 to 500kbps with peak speeds of 1.8 Mbps, Sprint said.

The modems are backward compatible with EV-DO Rev. 0 and 1XRTT technology in areas where EV-DO Rev. A coverage is not yet available. It features an integrated dual-band diversity antenna system with flip-up antenna.

www.verizonwireless.com and through Verizon Wireless’s business sales channels. On Oct. 5, it will become available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City. Verizon is offering the device at $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and new two-year agreement. Verizon Rev. A service costs $59.99/month with a one- or two-year customer agreement.www.sprint.com . Sprint retail stores will begin offering the device later this year. Sprint’s prices range from $279.99 to as low as $79.99 with a two-year contract and rebate. Service plans range from $39.99 per month for 40 MB to $79.99 per month for unlimited data usage. Customers signing a two-year subscriber agreement will be eligible to receive unlimited data usage for $59.99 per month with no separate voice plan required.