Verizon picks up EVDO Rev. A USB modem

Verizon today expanded its mobile Internet options and shipped out the UM150. The USB device gives most computers a connection to Verizon's 3G network without requiring a free notebook card slot, including for areas where the upgraded EVDO Revision A network is available. Subscribers in these regions can download as quickly as 1.4Mbps or upload at 800Kbps in real-world conditions, Verizon claims. The UM150 also doubles as impromptu flash storage and holds microSD cards up to 4GB.

The design tilts to provide ideal reception and has a retractable antenna as well as an extension cable to plug the modem into particularly tight spaces. Using the UM150 requires a system running either Mac OS X Panther, Windows 2000, or later. Sales start today at a price of $80 after signing a two-year data contract and a $50 rebate.