Helio Offers EVDO Card, $85/month

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

My read on the Helio web page which I posted above is that they are selling the service as auto-switching between wifi and EVDO, whichever is available, the card is even emblazoned with that kind of statement; however, reading the hardware requirements the user needs to have their own wifi card or built in wifi. So the implications of the ad are false or misleading.

Michael, you should revise your blog statement: "They'd like you to believe that they are a good choice because they have a neat gimmick: a PC card that handles both EVDO and WiFi." to include the fact that you must have your own wifi card or built-in wifi. If you have to use a wifi card, then most likely you'll have to remove the Helio EVDO card (it does not have built in wifi).

It's hard to understand why I should pay $25 more for their service since they are only re-selling Sprint's EVDO...

There is the implication on that page that the user will be auto-switched between wifi and EVDO. My Macintosh will automatically connect to Ethernet when plugged in if the EVDO or WIFI is not available. I haven't checked to see if it will automaticaly switch between EVDO or wifi but I do know that it will automatically connect to any wifi that I have designated as auto-selectable.

So I am wondering if the ad copy is pushing the envelope of truthfulness.

DontFearTheReefer · EVDO Newbie Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 1

I decided to make up my own mind, and after waiting for 22 minutes, I finally got through to [redacted to protect the guilty] in Customer Service at Helio, who didn't really seem to know much.

One one hand, he claimed that all their plans, phone and hybrid, were unlimited. I told him that clearly wasn't the case, as witnessed by their TOS. He then suggested that the 160MB applied to Wifi connections - which makes even less sense than having that cap on EVDO. Lastly, he said they hybrid was brand new and they didn't have any of the plan information in front of him, which makes me wonder about the level of product launch planning going on at Helio in general. He did agree that 160MB for $85/mo was not competitive in the marketplace, Wifi or no.

In short, I think Helio is feeling the heat for offering up a weak plan and is wondering what it will take to make the bad PR stop. Very Happy