EvDO (Evolution Data Optimized)

Last WotD we mentioned MiFi’s ability to support EvDO and UMTS/HSDPA 3G technologies. We will explore these further to gain an understanding of what exactly MiFi is able to offer current users.

EvDO (Evolution Data Optimized [or Only]): a newer wireless telecommunications technology that provides wireless data connections that are 300,000 to 600,000 bits per second – as much as 10 times as fast as a regular dial-up modem. Proponents say EvDO offers huge advantages over WiFi. EvDO can work over existing cell phone networks. One of the biggest barriers to EvDO is that it requires wireless companies to set aside a slice of their valuable airwaves just to transmit data. Because mobile phone companies barely have enough room to handle their voice traffic, EvDO is likely to remain on the back burner until the firms can acquire more spectrum. EvDO is a CDMA 2000 technology and implements various multiplexing techniques such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) as well as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) to maximize user throughput and overall system throughput. EvDO is commonly spelled as Ev-DO and EV-DO.

Some Major Carriers Offering EvDO:
- Alltel
- Cricket
- LG Telecom (Korea)
- Metro PCS
- SK Telecom (South Korea)
- Sprint (branded as ‘Power Vision’ and ‘Mobile Broadband’
- U.S. Cellular
- Verizon Wireless (often branded as ‘Mobile Broadband’ and ‘VCAST’)
- Virgin Mobile