Cingular debuts Sierra Wireless Aircard 875

by Paul Miller, posted Nov 20th 2006 at 2:50PM

If you're still rocking a PCMCIA slot, and haven't filled it yet with some other tantalizing 3G option, Cingular just busted out its first UMTS/HSDPA laptop card, the Sierra Wireless Aircard 875, which might strike your fancy. Built by Sierra Wireless, who has been quite busy on this front of late, the card has theoretical peaks of 3.6Mbps down and 384Kbps up, and Cingular rates the actual speeds at around 400-700 and 100-120 respectively. While there's not much point to the purchase if you don't have Cingular's 3G Broadband Connect service in your area, the card can serve up EDGE data in a pinch. Without contract the 875 will run you $349.99, but with $149.99 off for a 2-year service agreement, and an additional $100 rebate when you sign up for unlimited data service, you might emerge from your local Cingular store relatively unscathed.

[Thanks, Josh M.]

Filed under: Peripherals, ATT, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS

Tags: aircard, aircard 875, Aircard875, cingular, seirra wireless, SeirraWireless

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

goestoeleven @ Nov 20th 2006 3:55PM

This is not Cingular's first UMTS/HSDPA card -- the Aircard 860 has been available from Cingular for over a year...

Neutral

Kashif @ Nov 20th 2006 10:01PM

Its the first that will access international UMTS/HSDPA networks... the 860 is only setup up on UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900, while the 875 is triband UMTS/HSDPA

Neutral

Ben @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:05PM

So, does Cingular cripple the HSDPA speed because quoting such a low official downlink speed makes me think they do. Has anyone seen higher than 600kbps?

Neutral

James @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:59PM

The 700kbps top speed is for UMTS only, not HSDPA. They can't advertise HSDPA speeds yet because the technology has yet to be deployed in all of the nation's broadband connect markets.

Oh and my Samsung Blackjack pegged a speed test at 669kbps =)

Neutral

Todd @ Jan 1st 2007 12:25PM

And my HTC JasJam (Cingular 8525) pegged a speed test at 2.1Mbps :)

Neutral

Tim @ Jan 11th 2007 4:12PM

I'm getting 1050kbps down / 100kbps up in Times Square and 1400kbps down / 150kbps up in Jersey City, using the 875.

Neutral

Janna @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:48AM

I can't get a straight answer from cingular or sierra...is the 875 aircard gonna let us MAC users join in all the wireless fun, or is it still off limits to us? I read the 595 and 750 will work, but 860 and 875 is still not Mac supported. Is there anyone who can confirm it for me?

Neutral

Sean Ian Rice @ Apr 12th 2007 3:24PM

I was told by Cingular that yes, the card did support the Mac and would work no problem. I purchased the deal, and of course had to call for further assistance (software for windows), told download page had the software, get there and it says "no mac or linux suppport". I would love to hear from anyone in the Mac community willing to tackle this project with me. =) seanrice@mac.com

Neutral

Pete @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:38PM

Tech support told me - for a Mac you can buy the card manager software - it does require the express card (which newer Macs have) I don't know the price but he said it's "guarantied to work"

I'm looking for a problem fix using a Toshiba and the 875 wireless card... the touchpad locks up when the card launches.. but the mouse works with and external mouse. ideas?

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