Todays & Tomorrows Technology

Verizon are wising up to the fact that data subscribers want to keep using their WWAN modems even when outside the reach out EVDO Rev.A networks, hence this: the USB1000 Global Modem. As well as CDMA service while in the US, the Verizon USB1000 supports triband HSPA for when you’re abroad; there are also global data plans for regular travelers.
The USB1000 Global Modem itself is priced at $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and assuming you’re willing to sign a two-year agreement. After that, you can choose from a range of pay-per-use or monthly plans, depending on your likely usage. GlobalAccess Monthly starts at $129.99 for 100MB in 31 destinations ($0.005/KB after that) plus 5GB in the US and Canada ($0.05/MB after that); alternatively there’s a $219.99 plan which gets 200MB in those foreign destinations.

If you’re traveling less often, the GlobalAccess Pay Per Use plan might be more cost-effective. Verizon require a 5GB monthly US data plan, at $59.99 per month, but after that you’ll pay $0.002/KB in Canada, $0.005/KB in Mexico and $0.02/KB in more than 175 other destinations.

The flexibility is good, but we can’t help but think that you’d be better off picking up a pay-per-use SIM card in whatever country you’re traveling to, and using a local network direct rather than roaming. That certainly seems like it would work out cheaper than Verizon’s service.