Sprint’s New 598U EV-DO Modem Clips on Display for Better Signal

Sprint’s new Sierra Wireless 598U 3G adapter doesn’t offer much new in the way of features, but it’s fairly small (2.9 x 0.9 x 0.4 in.) and it’s currently free. Well, free with a standard two-year data commitment of course. The 598U retails for $249.99 but there’s an instant rebate of $199.99 plus $50 off for ordering on the web. It supports the faster Rev. A EV-DO network that Sprint uses so you should expect downloads around 1.5Mbps and uploads a little less than half that. Your mileage may will vary based on factors like coverage and strength of course. Using software or specific settings on a PC, you should be able to optimize the connection for the fastest possible speeds. I’ve seen speed boosts up to 31% using this method.

The SmartView software to use the 598U is included right on the device and unlike the AT&T USBConnect Quicksilver I used last month, there’s included software for both PC and Mac. The AT&T device only housed software for Windows devices. There’s a microSD card on the 598U that supports up to 32GB SDHC cards in that form factor. It also includes a useful cable and clip: You can possibly boost your signal strength a bit by attaching the 598U to your notebook’s display.