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Chrome OS Cr–48 Review Part 2: Verizon 3G Setup

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According to Google, all Chrome OS notebooks will come with Verizon 3G built in. The Cr-48 is no exception. One of the first things I did when I am boxed the CR 48 last night was to set up mobile broadband on the device. Set up was pretty painless, but there’s much more than meets the eye than free service and plans “starting at $9.99.”

This is the second part of a multi–part review of the Google Chrome OS Cr-48:
Part 1: Google Chrome OS Cr-48 Out of Box Experience

Mobile broadband modems, whether integrated or external, are typically $75-$200 add-ons. This hefty upfront fee prevents many mobile users from ever experimenting with mobile broadband, offense limiting their mobility. Bundling Verizon 3G into Chrome OS notebooks is a very wise move. Internet access is a must-have with the Cr- 48. Sure, some Google Chrome OS web apps have off-line functionality, but I wouldn’t want to spend too much time using this device offline.

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Every Google Chrome OS notebook will come with a Gobi module and free Verizon 3G service. I’m sure the “free“ mobile broadband service will be promoted heavily with the tiny Asterix over the word “free.” The fine print will read that only 100 MB of data is allowed per month for the first 24 months of ownership. After that, you’ll have to pay big red the big bucks for mobile broadband, just like everyone else using a Mac or PC.

A hundred MB of data is certainly enough to get a taste of mobility, but it is very easy to burn through that. In Google’s Chrome OS presentation, on Tuesday, the product managers kept on repeating that Verizon plans will start at $9.99. That price is for unlimited usage for one day.While technically true that the plans start at $9.99, I wouldn’t really call a one day “plan”. A real Verizon plan for Google Chrome OS users costs $20 (1GB), $20 (3GB) or $50 (5GB) per month.

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Upgrading to one of the paid plans can be done when you set up your Chrome notebook. You are required to enter your billing address, personal info and credit card account info to sign up for a Verizon account, even if all you want is a free 100 MB.

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I currently have 98 MB remaining and my Verizon plan details are not visible. I assume upgrade options will reappear once I near the limit. One nice thing about the Google Chrome Verizon 3G set up is that it’s very easy to see how much data you have remaining for the month. All you have to do is mouse over the 3G signal indicator in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Another thing I really like about the configuration is that the Chrome notebook automatically switches over to its Wi-Fi connection whenever known network is detected. I found this out when I switched to Verizon 3G manually to run a Speedtest.net test from my home office and was amazed to see 22 Mbps downloads and 10 Mbps. Obviously, it’s much faster than I expected, but then I saw the results listed Comcast as the ISP. The automatic switching works both ways. When I walked down the block and lost sight of my home network, the notebook automatically switched over to Verizon 3G. If you’re able to authenticate enough Wi-Fi networks you’ll be able to skimp on Verizon fees.

Since I already have us Sprint MiFi card I probably won’t sign up for paid Verizon service, but it is nice to know that I now have another backup Internet connection. Comcast isn’t perfect and neither is Sprint. I now also have the ability to handoff a mobile Internet connection to friends and family when visiting.

It is very nice to have mobile broadband built into the machine. My only concern is that many consumers will assume they’ll be able to access the web for free. In the age of streaming media and heavy websites, users will be able to burn through 100 MB in a single computing session.

The $9.99 day pass is the best option for those are typically covered by Wi-Fi at home and work, but are occasionally other range. Paying $9.99 for Internet access during a weekend trip might sound expensive to some people, but it’s well worth it if that means you can hit the road a day or two early and work during your drive to the ski slopes.

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. Lauren Blake

    12/10/2010 at 9:18 pm

    Loving my portable little CR-48! Can’t get Verizon set up though, even though the coverage map shows digital coverage in my area :-/

    • Xavier Lanier

      12/10/2010 at 9:25 pm

      Do you have any bars? Verizon 3G is just like using a mobile phone- your mileage will vary from one location to another.

  2. tivoboy

    12/11/2010 at 12:36 am

    I’m still waiting for mine!

  3. rent a car

    12/11/2010 at 9:42 am

    Thanks for post.)

  4. Christopher Bowley

    12/11/2010 at 10:15 pm

    Thank you for shopping at Verizon Wireless. Your order is now complete. Your session is now in progress.

    100MB Mobile Broadband plan expires: 01/08/11

    ORDER DATE: 12/10/10

    ORDER NUMBER:
    LOCATION CODE:
    WIRELESS NUMBER:

    *See instructions on How to Get Online, below.

    BILL TO:
    ——————————————————————————————
    —-

    ——————————————————————————————

    Due Now
    ——-

    1 100 MB Mobile Broadband (30 Days)

  5. Christopher Bowley

    12/11/2010 at 10:16 pm

    Have you looked at your confirmation email? Mine says 30 days as you can see above.

    • Xavier Lanier

      12/11/2010 at 11:18 pm

      Yes, and it renews automatically every month. You should be good to go w/ Verizon – 100 MB a month for the next 24 months.

  6. mickmel

    12/12/2010 at 12:14 am

    I can’t get mine to work. I sign up, receive the confirmation email, but then the laptop just goes back to the “sign up” screen. I’ve cycled through it a few times, but no dice. Any ideas?

    • Xavier Lanier

      12/13/2010 at 9:21 pm

      Are you within range of a Verizon 3G tower? Try from a different location as it may be having trouble registering your device.

      • mickmel

        12/14/2010 at 1:40 am

        Good though, but it seems larger than that. I’ve been on the phone with Google and Verizon quite a bit today. They think they’ve found the problem, but no dice yet. We’ll see…

        • Dan Moses

          12/17/2010 at 9:13 pm

          I had the same problem but it worked when I tried it from the network settings page

  7. Johnathan M Camien

    12/18/2010 at 5:08 am

    I could not get my card activated to save my life. I called verizon wireless and he had no clue, I went into the store (big mistake) he had no clue. There was one time I was trying to activate that i got an error that had a number to call for help, ends up it was VZ tech support. I finally got it set up talking with a tech guy, he said the reps get like 5 to 6 calls each a day with this issue. So if you cant activate it over the notebook call verizon and if they give you the ?huh? tell them it falls under their pre-paid services, did not realize this, and that you need to talk to a tech bubu to get it fixed. They had me go into terminal and manually activate my service in about 10 15 min. They are aware of the issue and working to fix it so yeah, yay for beta.

  8. Pm8_morale

    01/02/2011 at 2:22 am

    does anyone know how good the chances are of recieving the Chrome os

  9. User

    02/05/2011 at 8:45 pm

    I got one, and I freaking love it.

  10. Anonymous

    02/05/2011 at 11:15 pm

    I’m tethering my CR-48 with my Android phone, connected 24/7. It makes a great surfing/email machine, and the guest mode is nice for a friend to check there email.

    • Jie

      03/07/2011 at 7:28 pm

      I thought cr48 can’t use ad-hoc wifi network, and Android phone can only create ad-hoc wifi network. How did you make it work? Thanks.

      • Anonymous

        03/07/2011 at 7:36 pm

        Well My nexus One as of Froyo and up had tethering in infrastructure mode. And as far as the CR-48 if you go in to about system and tell the CR-48 to check for Development builds instead of Beta builds I believe the last update enabled Ad-Hoc, it also enabled the GSM radio so one can pop in there Tmo or ATT sim in there and have it work. I can confirm this works. From what i hear GPS will be turned on soon.

  11. B G L

    11/12/2011 at 1:03 pm

    It worked fine in Google mode but than I installed Ubuntu 11.04 as dual boot. Can’t figure out how to set it up [and now run 11.10 which was supposed to make it easy.]

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