Sprint's Wireless Data Network Trumps Verizon's

I basically broke the thing, which is really remarkable.

Verizon tried hard. Customer service was excellent each time I called. And the company takes an interesting spin on this product.

"We view VZAccess Manager as a convenient way for customers to access all their data access," says Maitland Muse, director of wireless data solutions for Verizon Wireless in Warren, N.J.

Muse suspected my results were due to the complex configuration of the testing machines I use, or maybe a bad modem.

That may be correct -- I am hard on the gear I test, and I have used Verizon's broadband products before with great success.

Still, Verizon's desire to control all your network access from your business laptop is a dangerous choice. It provides a service your company might just not need. Worse, you will have to pay for the privilege.

In the New York area, Sprint charges $99 for a 727 modem, plus $60 a month for unlimited usage. Verizon charges $149 for the same unit and has the same $60-per-month access charge, but that is for only 5Gb per month. Beyond that, it charges a stunning 49 cents per Mb.

Wow.

Now is Sprint wireless data right for your business? Unfortunately, there is no short-cut to choosing wireless connectivity. You have to test this stuff, see if it meets your needs and return it within 30 days if it doesn't.

But as of now, it would be foolish to ignore Sprint's data products as a small-business alternative to Verizon. Sprint's data products are cheaper and, in my experience, superior to Verizon's. There is simply no reason not to test them and see if they can work for you.