AT&T Introduces USB Modem with LCD Screen for 4G LTE Network

This morning, May 6, 2013, AT&T announced that in a few days (May 10, to be exact) customers can pick up and use the AT&T Beam. “What is the Beam?” you may ask. It is a new option from AT&T, a 4G LTE USB modem that is manufactured by Sierra Wireless.

Sierra Wireless is a Canadian-based designer and manufacturer of wireless communications equipment. They sell mobile computing and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications products that are designed to work over cellular networks.

The AT&T Beam is a USB modem that has an LCD screen built into the device. The screen gives AT&T’s customers such information as network indicator, signal strength and data usage. The device is set up for global roaming. This means that you can use the AT&T Beam internationally. There are more than 210 countries included in that list, so you should be able to use the modem without any problems.

Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, devices and developer services at AT&T, said, "The LCD screen on the AT&T Beam really makes it stand out from traditional USB modems. This added feature provides real-time information with just a glance. With the support of the nation's fastest 4G network, our customers have even more flexibility to stay productive wherever they are, giving them more control of their mobile experience."

To support the claim that AT&T has the fastest 4G network, an independent testing organization called RootMetrics tested the network. The report called AT&T’s 4G network “blazing fast.” It also found that the 4G LTE network delivered the fastest pure LTE speeds in markets where AT&T provided 4G LTE service.

In addition to the LCD screen, the modem also holds a microSD card slot. The slot supports up to a 32 GB card. This feature could be useful for storing and transferring data quickly. All of this comes in a package that is easy and quick to setup. You are basically looking at a plug and play device. The AT&T Beam is certified to work with Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows RT laptops and tablets.

The software that is being used, AT&T AllAccess, has the ability to turn a laptop into a hotspot. It can provide a Windows 7 laptop with the ability to create a mobile hotspot that can support up to 10 Wi-Fi enabled devices. All of the devices would be running on the 4G network.

The plan is to offer the AT&T Beam for $19.99 with a two-year commitment. You can buy the device either online or from an AT&T store. Customers will have some flexibility in choosing a plan: the AT&T Beam can be added to a customer’s shared data plan, which would cost $20 per month.

If you are going to be a heavy user, you can choose an individual plan. This would give you 5 GB data for $50 a month. The modem would give the customer unlimited access to more than 32,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots across the nation.