Although its Web site doesn’t yet show it, Kyocera Wireless Corp. has announced Mac support for its KPC650, a wireless networking card that communicates using EV-DO — a high-speed communications scheme used by Verizon Wireless that provides data access up to 2.4Mbps. The PC card — compatible with 15 and 17-inch PowerBooks — carries a retail price of US$199.
Verizon Wireless sells its EV-DO data capabilities as “BroadbandAccess” service, a nationwide service Verizon Wireless offers in more than 60 metropolitan markets and surrounding areas nationwide, as well as 65 airports. The service allows laptop computers equipped with the KPC650 and other similar hardware to download content at average speeds of 400 – 700Kbps.
The card features dual-band reception, SMS text-messaging capabilities, support for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and other capabilities. The card will provide a “soft handoff” to the slower CDMA2000 1xRTT service when it’s not in EV-DO range.
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