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CNET editors' rating:
3.5
stars
Very good
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Product summary
The
good: Fast; easy to install and use.
The
bad: Pricey; limited service areas; lacks backward compatibility.
The
bottom
line: The Merlin U520 lets you take your broadband with you. Unfortunately, it's expensive and is available in only select cities.
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 10/19/2004
- Released on: 08/26/2004
As with your cell phone, you'll need to have an active UMTS account with AT&T to use the PC Card modem. A SIM card provided by AT&T, which slips into the back of the U520, gives you permission to connect to the UMTS network. All this is taken care of when you purchase your U520 along with the UMTS service.
Installing the Merlin U520 on a laptop is a breeze. The unit ships with a CD bearing Novatel's MobiLink software, which installs automatically when you insert the disc but is compatible with only Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Once the software is installed, simply insert the Merlin U520 and launch the MobiLink utility by clicking the app's desktop icon. The MobiLink utility lets you connect to and disconnect from AT&T's UMTS network, allows you to send and receive SMS messages, and displays the status of your connection, including whether you are within the UMTS coverage area.
Unfortunately, the Merlin U520 isn't backward compatible with AT&T's slower but far more prevalent GPRS/EDGE network. This limits the value of the U520 for frequent fliers who need Internet service in areas where AT&T's UMTS network isn't yet available.
Continue reading- See more CNET content tagged:
- Novatel Wireless,
- UMTS,
- AT&T Corp.,
- DSL,
- 3G
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