[markw10]

I have a Sierra Wireless 881U USB Aircard that I use with AT&T's 5GB/month data plan. It works well now since I just use it on a couple laptops I have but now that I'm buying an iPad I want to avoid an extra $30/month for data and just share the data plan with it. Since the iPad doesn't have USB that means I'll need a solution to use Wi-Fi on it.
I came across the Cradlepoint PHS-300. It's nice since it has an internal battery or can plug in and is fairly small and I simply plug in my aircard to make a local wi-fi access point that I can use on the go with either my laptop or iPad.
My question: Are there other options on the market? Cradlepoint makes some others but they don't have a battery. I want one with the most battery life for the smallest sizes and have been unable to find any from Linksys but are there other items like this on the market?

Also, another question. I'm happy with AT&T's data plan but my contract is up shortly. Does anyone have opinions of Verizon or Spring or even T-Mobile? I don't know much about T-Mobile and it seems like Verizon's plan is similar and even Sprint's current 3G plan is similar. it seems once 4G is available in an area though for the same price of $59.95/month you get unlimited data. that sounds too good to be true and is it really true and is the service and speed good?

Thank you for your help with the above.

[hippopotamus]

the market has moved from USB aircards to credit card sized mobile wireless routers (several hour lithium battery, can also be plugged into 1 computer's USB port for slightly faster speed and non-battery use) that broadcast 3G or 4G to up to 5 WiFi devices like
- Sprint 4G/3G Overdrive (unlimited 4G data, max 5GB/month 3G data). Are you in one of Sprint's 30 4G cities?
[best for fastest data rates if in 4G city, $60/month data plan]
- Sprint MiFi 3G mobile wireless card, max 5GB/month 3G data [$60/month data plan]
- Verizon MiFi 3G mobile wireless card, max 5GB/month 3G data [$60/month data plan]
- Verizon Palm Pre Plus mobile phone with free 3G mobile hotspot application (free data tethering, no monthly additional tethering charge unlike most carriers) broadcasts phones mobile data to up to 5 WiFi devices
[if you already have a smart phone this is best since you only have to pay once for the $30/month smartphone data plan and not an extra $60/month for a separate wireless card]

Summary: If you already have a smartphone with data plan and are already on Verizon or don't mind switching to Verizon and the excellent Palm Pre Plus, that is the least expensive way to go. Otherwise get the Sprint Overdrive.

[markw10]

Thank you your response. it gave me a lot of information to go on. I wasn't even aware of these cards such as the MiFi and Overdrive until days ago and only knew about the aircards.
I would be glad to simply get a 3G plan and the 3G ipad for me and my fiancee for $60 a month total except I already pay $60/month for the aircard. That's still needed for my laptop on to go so the idea of one of these wireless routers is perfect since it would work with all 3. Of course I wish I could have unlimited data like i would on the ipad 3G's. I hope with time unlimited data or higher usage plans than 5GB become more common. With more video, etc. on the internet and with using more than one device on these units it doesn't take long to go over 5GB. I have almost done it on my aircard.
Do both the MiFi and the Overdrive plug into the computer USB's port? I don't know how much you know about the Cradlepoint. The company has told me that the PHS-300 is their only unit that works off of battery which is important since I may only have the ipad with me at times. Yet I think it only has one usb port which is for the aircard. I definitely like the option of being able to plug into my laptop to save more battery life on the unit.
I live in Denver and Sprint told us that they expect 4G to be out by the end of the year and then it'll be unlimited. It sounds hard to imagine a faster service like 4G being unlimited when 3G is limited. It didn't make sense but maybe it's the difference in it being Wi-Max. I will definitely do more research on these and will see what conclusion I come to.