You can't be serious! 3g compared to broadband is like a horse compared to a car. No way in a Million years would you ever be satisified using 3g only.
As far as a data only plan, I have no idea.
I love forums because people post not even taking into account what other people's situations might be like, assuming we are all rich and can afford the ultimate fast 16mbps cable connection.
I am a grad student and currently can only afford the AT&T $19.95 DSL 768kbps dl. Clear wireless has a plan for mobile internet at $30 a month for 1mbps (which theoretically will be about the same speed I would get from AT&T).
The point is if I can get rid of my voice plan and consolidate all my internet over one pipe and use skype, I would be in fact saving money and also have the ability to use internet on the move. The issue is if a carrier actually has a data only plan.
The other thought I had was with Clear. They have the Clear Spot which turns their 4g data only connection into a MIFI, allowing you to get internet anywhere in range and use it with any WIFI connected device.
With this setup, you would be able to use an iPod Touch with a mic and Skype and make phone calls, use internet anywhere on the Touch and a laptop, even at home. The only drawback is convenience, cause every time I would want to make a phone call, I would need to setup two devices (the Spot and then the Touch with Skype), more work than it needs to be.
The honesty is there is this growing issue where carriers are having trouble meeting mobile internet demand. If they were to completely switch all their voice service to VOIP and dump all money spent on voice to their data networks, they might not be having this type of problem, allowing for cheaper internet access while still providing voice service, probably at one, moderately priced rate instead of all these add on fees (like text fees and $30 data plans).
A thought, thats all.
What's funny is for 6 months now, I have coped with a 768kbps internet connection (going from a 6mbps before grad school). I stream netflix onto a blue ray wifi player and all sorts of internet intensive actions. Most people can make due with less if they just realize they could. If I could double my speed, that is probably all I would ever need in the future, until they really start streaming HD netflix films.
