macnn/electronista
10/14/2008, 10:55am, EDT
Tuesday, October 14thUSBConnect Quicksilver 3G modem hits AT&T
AT&T on Tuesday morning quietly picked up the USBConnect Quicksilver as its latest external modem. The adapter made by Option uses a new Icera 3G chipset that supports all three major HSPA frequencies while creating one of the smallest devices available; the new adapter is small enough to come with a swivel cover that protects the USB port when the modem isn't in use. AT&T estimates real-world download speeds as high as 1.7Mbps and uploads as quick as 1.2Mbps.
The Quicksilver further supports quad-band EDGE and GPRS for connections on the fringe of coverage and works with both bulit-in Windows drivers and downloadable Mac drivers. As with most newer modems, a microSD slot provides additional storage space.
AT&T is offering the new modem as of today and sells it for $250 without any commitment, though signing up for a two-year data plan supplies the Quicksilver for free.
Filed under: peripherals, networking
Other story tags: AT&T, Option, USBConnect
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Add On to Current Plan
If I am already paying for an AT&T data plan with my iPhone 3G, can I add the Quicksilver 3G modem without having to sign-up for an additional data plan ?
Now that's funny
PhotoJim you crack me up...
USBConnect Mercury
I just got the SierraWireless USBConnect Mercury from AT&T and it works well, on all major frequencies, at the speeds shown. My various tests showed 1.1 to about 1.7 mbit/s download depending on which server I chose from the list of test servers, and 500 to 1.2 mbit/s upload depending on which test server I chose, with 1.5-1.6mbit/s down and about 1.0-1.2 mbit/s up being the most common.
And it was wicked easy to set up. I chose that over an Expresscard solution from Option due to the reallybad reviews for Mac OS X support from Option on that card. I hope they (Option) have much better support on this new USB model. The Sierra stuff works well and was so easy to set up.