Before I go into the techie-geeky details let's have a quick refresher course. If you have a computer and you want it on the internet you have to have it connected somehow. Usually if you are in a building (like our offices) you are using something called "wi-fi" wireless. All that does is connect you to a cable somewhere in the building that then connects you to the internet.
Your cell phone on the other hand uses "cellular wireless" (hence the name) to connect to the internet and the phone network as well. There are no wires anywhere. The towers we are all familiar with relay that signal to satellites which bounce it around until it lands where it needs to go.
But cellular wireless can also power your computer, connecting you to the internet anywhere you want to go. This post will analyze the basics of how and evaluate whether you need to go that route or skip it altogether.
Cellular wireless is divided (for the basis of this conversation anyway) into 3G and 4G signals. 4G is newer and faster....think of it as the 2010 Mustang Supersport. 3G is the standard that powers all of our cell phones, reliable and pretty darn quick....think of it as my 2008 Honda Accord.
All the commercials you see right now are selling you the Mustang. New companies like Clear Wireless have sprung up to offer 4G "Wimax" service, while existing companies like Comcast have ramped up marketing for their 4G "Xfinity" service. Verizon Wireless still has their 4G service in long-term-evaluation. The service area for Clear only covers part of our Hearthside footprint; from what I can tell the Xfinity map is pretty similar. So if you aren't in the green area on that map to the left you're going to have to wait anyway.The good news is you probably don't need the Mustang just yet anyway. For what we do at CBH, 3G speeds are still more than sufficient, and the costs for 3G cards (the thing you have to stick into your computer to make it work) have dropped dramatically in the wake of the 4G launch(es).
I have personally had a 3G cellular card for the better part of 5 years. I got it when I was out of town at a beach rental and found out the idea of transferring files on a dial-up connection just wasn't going to cut it anymore (by the way, if you are still connecting to the internet via dial up connection stop reading this now and buy a 2010 calendar). I went to Verizon Wireless, got a card and was up and running again within an hour. I pay $39 for an unlimited amount of data, which I frequently use to get on the internet from anywhere, anytime. I love my 3G card and am never caught without it in my computer.
If you like to meet your clients out of the office, or if you do a large number of listing presentations I highly encourage you to make the 3G (if not 4G) commitment. Since all of the real estate applications are web based these days (MLS, Realfast, Toolkit, Email, etc) you won't be disappointed.
All that said, however, there is also no need to get the Accord OR the Mustang. If you have a smartphone (like a blackberry, iPhone or Droid) you are carrying the internet with you already. While I woudln't recommend working up your ToolKit presentation on your iPhone, if you are looking for a quick way to check email or the MLS these phones will work just fine (actually, I am not positive GSMLS supports mobile browsing just yet). To top that off, with some phones and services you can now tie your phone to your laptop (called "tethering") for a quick wireless hit.
At the end of all this you may be wondering what I am suggesting you do. Truth is, I can't say - because it really depends on how much data you download and upload each day. I just wanted you to know what a 4G service is (and what companies like Clear and Xfinity offer) and also remind you just how important it is in our business to have a connection to the internet when you need one.
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