Their can’t be a better news than the release of Huawei E303c and Huawei E560 3G USB Dongles for High Speed Mobile Broadband Access. Both are Network Independent Devices – Meaning Change your SIM and access 3G network of the new operator on the fly.
Huawei E303c This is a 3G USB Dongle Modem with which you can access 3G Broadband on your Laptop / PC / Tablets, etc irrespective of the Telecom Operator. E303c / E560 are compatible with Airtel, BSNL, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance, Aircel and all other 3G Operators operating in India. Detailed Spec available here.
Huawei E303c Indian Rupee Price Maximum Retail Price is Rs 1800 to Rs 1900
Huawei E560 This has dual functionality of 3G Mobile Broadband Modem + Wi-Fi Router to share the broadband with 5 other Persons. Detailed Spec is available here.
Huawei E560 Indian Rupee Price Maximum Retail Price is Rs 4800
Why is this very important development ? I had written to the DoT and TRAI in the past and re-iterated my stand during the recommendations of NTP-2011, that Consumers must be given Freedom of Choice and Independence by not licking their hardware to any particular platform. Here was the related recommendation to the Government of India’s National Telecom Policy Panel,
Open Devices Standards at Consumer End – You may have noticed that Devices such as USB Dongles for Broadband access in the hands of consumers are not portable from one operator to another. For example, a consumer BUYING a device at Rs 1500 for EVDO Broadband from Tata Photon+ service provider has no-where to go if he has problems with the company or network or billing. Government must mandate that all USB Dongles and similar devices should be based on Open Standards and Portability should be easy for the consumer at no cost without hardware locks.
Lastly, I believe the launch of E303c / E560 will encourage Price Competition in 3G Data Plans as Customers can immediately jump from one Operator to other since they are no more locked in to the Rs 1500+ USB hardware. What say ?
Currently TTSL do not allow internet access via RUIM card. So unlocked EVDO modem is no use if you want to use TTSL EVDO. While Reliance, MTS, BSNL allow this.
These Dongles are for 3G Only which is available only on GSM Platform in India 🙂 You can definitely use this with Tata DoCoMo 3G Card. Not CDMA EVDO.
@chetan I know that, I was telling why Huawei has not come up with EVDO data cards. GSM offers more freedom while CDMA does not.
I had convo with a TTSL guy suggesting him that why they do not reset the device from other operators for Photon+ with a minimal charge or why do not they come up with RUIM on Photon+. He said it’s all about higher authorities, and he can not change the scenario. 🙁
I m not fully satisfied with this because it has 4800 but bsnl privides us usb data card in 1280/-rupees only