A New Way To Connect

By Jeffrey Ressner/Los Angeles

Tired of searching for "hot spots" at Starbucks to get high-speed wireless Web access on your laptop? That wi-fi era may be over, thanks to EV-DO, which stands for evolution data optimized. The new 3G technology, offered first by Verizon Wireless and now by others as well, uses a credit-card-size "antenna," which users slip easily into their PCs, allowing superfast broadband in areas covered by the phone companies. You can use it in moving vehicles, hotel rooms, even local parks and beaches. "It's a huge jump in technology," raved cybergadfly Matt Drudge earlier this year. "I think it will revolutionize the Internet yet again."

The drawback, as with all new tech toys, is the price. Verizon, which spent $1 billion to upgrade its lines and now offers the service in more than 50 cities, charges $80 a month, along with a one-time hardware fee of $150, occasionally minus rebates or company discounts. Sprint launched its EV-DO service in some airports and business areas this summer, hoping to cover 60 cities by mid-2006, while Cingular and T-Mobile are offering their 3G variations, with smaller coverage areas, slower speeds and other disadvantages. On the plus side: you'll save money on expensive coffee. --By Jeffrey Ressner/Los Angeles