Entered CNET Catalog: 09/21/2004
SKU: Novatel Wireless Inc.
Manufacturer: Novatel Wireless Inc.
Manufacturer description
The Merlin U520 redefines the way business professionals communicate by converging telecommunications, information, commerce and computing. Just slide the Merlin U520 into the PC Card slot of your laptop and experience the freedom and robust capabilities of high-speed, wide area, wireless connectivity on the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network - no wires, no cables, always connected. The Merlin U520 transfers IP packet data up to 384 kbps on UMTS networks within North America. In addition to email, Internet and corporate network access, the Merlin U520 enables rapid downloads of large attachments. The Merlin U520 was engineered with simplicity in mind. The MobiLink modem manager software seamlessly guides you through installation and configuration making set-up quick and easy. Upon device power up, MobiLink can automatically connect to the UMTS network and provide always-on access to the information you need. With one click of the mouse, MobiLink provides direct access to the Internet, VPN (Virtual Private Network), SIM address book and SMS messaging. Security is paramount when connecting to corporate information while on the move. To ensure security, data is encrypted by UMTS technology and the SIM card authenticates with the network preventing unauthorized access. The Merlin U520 is also compatible with VPN, enabling secure passage through corporate firewalls. So, whether you are at the airport or a customer site, you have secure direct access to network servers, intranets, extranets, databases and internal corporate applications. In office access while out of the office - that's the beauty of broadband wireless innovation. Join the mobile revolution and experience the freedom of UMTS mobility!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.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 10/19/2004
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.
We tested the Novatel Merlin U520 in San Francisco and consistently experienced speeds of around 250Kbps. That's quite a bit slower than the rate of standard cable or even DSL broadband, but it's a heck of a lot faster than the 56Kbps you can expect from standard cellular data connections. Even with UMTS speeds, you probably won't want to repeatedly download large files with the Merlin U520, but you won't find yourself drumming your fingers waiting for a Web page to load, either. If working with the Web on the fly is part of your business, the AT&T Merlin U520 combo can speed things up dramatically.
Novatel covers the Merlin U520 for one year and offers toll-free tech support Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET for the length of the warranty. The AT&T Web site also hosts a FAQ and a user forum for both its UMTS service and the Merlin U520.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2out of 2 user reviews
Works, but a pain to get it configured
Pros: browsing seems better than GPRS/EDGE
Cons: Downloads similar to GPRS/EDGE
Uses multi-function parent modem config which needs a mf.ini file added to Windows directory. I ll say MF. Did finally work though....
out of 2 user reviews
GOOD AS IT GETS RIGHT NOW
Pros: EXCELLENT DESIGN, DURABLE, FAST CONNECTION SPEED.
Cons: DOSENT WORK IF YOU TRAVEL OUT OF THE SMALL AVAILABLE NETWORK.
