How To Buy Best Wireless Data Card In India, Laptop, Pc

There are many types of wireless data cards available in india. Which you can use in laptops, pc. Also, now a days these data cards available with wide range of speeds, 144kbps to 3.6MBPS. Which includes 3g data cards, hsdpa data cards, Usb sim data cards, Cdma data cards. Gsm data cards. Most widely used data cards was based on cdma technology. Relaince, tata indicom, bsnl etc based on cdma technology.

I will differentiate these data cards on the basis of speed.

• Slow speed data cards
• High speed data cards

On the basis of port and connection

• Usb data cards: Can connect with directly in usb of laptop and pc.
• Pcmcia data cards: Can put into pcmcia slot of you laptop.
• In built 3g connections: Now a days few companies are giving 3g laptops with inbuilt slots for sim cards.
  

On the basis of wireless networks

• CDMA networks
  
• 3g networks
• Gms/Gprs networks
• Wimax networks

On the basis of data cards speeds

• 144kbps tata indicom
• 230 kbps reliance data card
• 253 kbps idea data cards
• 250 kbps virgin data cards
• 2.4 Mbps bsnl evdo data card
• 3.6 Mbps reliance data card
• 3.6 Mbps tata photon, mts blaze data card, idea 3g data card, virgin data cards.

On the basis of data card data card manufacturer.

Usually all data cards company is using two or three manufacturer.

• ZTE data card company.
• HUAWEI data card
• Micromax: This is basically a mobile company which launched many data cards in india. You just have to put sim inside and you can use these data cards on the 3g networks and if there is no 3g networks they will use normal GSM and GPRS networks.I saw a nice data cards from micromax but i am afraid of using them because the 3g network is launched by bsnl only. And that also very costly. if you compare with the plans of other data cards which is based on cdma technology.

On the basis of plans and price

• Unlimited plans: I am using relaince 230 kbps unlimited plans for 799rs per month. But if you are using data card based on 3.6 MBPS. No unlimited plans are available. One shopkeeper told me that because TRAI ( Telecomm Regulatory Authority Of India ) don't allow unlimited plans in wireless networks. But you can use BSNL EVDO data card 2.4 MBPS unlimited for 650-750 rs per month. They have unlimited plans but no roaming. I wanted to try them people says the speed of this data card satisfactory. New russian company mts blaze data cards also launched recently a adverts in which people in certain locations will get 999 rs unlimited data usage fro 3.6 MBPS data card. If so then this might be good option for the peoples living in the metro. Still if you think from your mind, MTS don't have that great network as compared to reliance, tata and bsnl. Because it is stiil very new.
  
• Limited plans: Most 3.6 MBPS data cards have limited plans but all seems to be very costly. Few companies use very tricky packages like use 1GB day - 10 gb night. Why dont' they put 5GB any time a day. Because all peoples use under 5 GB and if they will provide in 500rs. But they are not.
  

If you compare the wireless data cards with broadband in india. You will feel that even data cards which promise the speed of 3.6 MBPS will never be able to give the downloading speed which is promised by the Bsnl 1.2 MBPS or Airtel Mbps broadband connections.

Downloading speed provided by different data cards depends on the networks and strength of networks. Like if you are far from the the networks then you will get less downloading speed as compared to if you staying  near to the tower. Like CDMA and GSM towers depends on the type of network i told above. I used reliance data card before i had very bad experience and now i am using on different place. I am satisfied with them. Not really because 230 kbps will give you max of 15-20 kbps downloading speed. even Airtel broadband 128 kbps gives more downloading speed (30kbps).So, if you are thinking that 3.6 mbps means you will get 3.6 mbps.Then it is not like that. You can expect max of 300kbps downloading speed.

I saw

bsnl data card 2.4 mbps gives 100+ kbps speed.

reliance 3.6 mbps gives aroung 70 kbps.

Tata photon gives 70 kbps. etc. and other data cards i never saw very good reviews. These days mts, idea and virgin launched but i dont have any idea. I forgot airtel data card. They can be good options. They have 3G data card with support of GPRS/GSM networks.

What is 4G

In few counties which has 3g enabled now opting for 4G networks. I hope india will atleast get huge competition in data cards fields. So, that we get high speed net on the roads. Later we will thing about 4g networks and based data cards.

Ask few questions from your self.

• Purpose of using data cards? If you are working professional, business man, student or professional blogger or you have multiple users.
  
• Speed of data cards?? check the local netowrks and people who already have data cards. usually speed depends on the tower distance. Hence if some body living 10 km away from your home and getting good speed from some data card. It may give you less speed. Because you will be connected to the nearest tower.Bsnl evdo, reliance, tat photon is always a good option. If you don't want to use roaming then go for bsnl. It has unlimited plans for 2.4 MBPS data cards.
• Data card as pen drive: I dont know how many people will like this but surely virgin launched it data card with 8 gb pen drive. You may like to use it as a pen drive.
• Plans: It is most important part: because plans are tricky. How much you are gonna use. Depends on you. In my view every one should go with 1GB plus plan minimum.
  
• Offers: Like buy data cards in group you will get free discount, buy one data card on free mts blaze, upgrade you data card and discount on your monthly tarrif. etc

Most important thing is the needs to be fulfilled. But even though data cards plans are not good. If MTS blaze which launched 999 unlimited for 15 gb usage has some effect then other brands must reduce and give unlimited for the same.