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EVDO (EVolution Data Optimized) is exciting wireless technology that offers speeds good enough to enable wireless video communication. (For the time being, this means using either a wireless data card or a wireless phone as a modem with a laptop & webcam.) After reading this article, you will have a better understanding of what EVDO is and where it is heading in the future, and what it means for you.

EVDO is the latest iteration of high speed wireless technology on CDMA networks. EVDO is part of the CDMA2000 family of 3G (third generation) wireless technologies originally developed by Qualcomm. EVDO is currently available from at least three wireless providers in the United States, Sprint, Verizon, and Alltel. The version of EVDO currently deployed on both Sprint/Verizon/Alltel is known as EVDO Revision 0 (Rev 0). EVDO Rev 0 has approximate bandwidth of 2.5 MBps downstream and 100-150k upstream. The latency (delay between a network request and the response to that request) on Rev 0 networks is terrible – 100+ms ping times.

Sprint’s network is considered the better network to be on for EVDO. They have all 1900 MHz towers and all of them are EVDO enabled. They also have a new EVDO roaming agreement with Alltel that will kick in on July 1st of this year, giving Sprint users coverage in the rural areas that Alltel’s network covers. Sprint can easily handle more users on their network. Verizon has a smaller EVDO footprint, because they have both 1900 MHz and 800 MHz towers. Verizon is not putting EVDO on any of their 800 MHz towers, so their EVDO network will become congested, as more Verizon customers get EVDO phones.

A new revision of EVDO is coming next year, called EVDO Revision A (Rev A). Bandwidth is supposed to increase in the Rev A version of EVDO, offering speeds of up to 3.1 MBps downstream, and 1.8 MBps upstream. In addition to the bandwidth upgrade, latency is also supposed to improve to sub-100ms, with the goal of being able to support VoIP and Video communications. Rev. A requires new EVDO chips in phones. As far as I can find out, it is not software upgradeable. That means that all new EVDO-capable devices most likely are EVDO Rev 0 devices, and we will need to wait for a new versions of those devices that support the higher speeds of Rev A. However there have been some rumors of software upgrades from Rev 0 to Rev A, but this is yet to be confirmed.

Now, what does all this mean for you? This means that right now, there is an acceptable alternative to DSL/cable internet access that can be used for wireless video communication! However, once EVDO Rev A comes out with the higher upstream speeds, EVDO becomes a true replacement for DSL/cable! However we will have to see how long the Rev A rollout takes. Upgrade costs for towers will cost money. As mentioned earlier, Sprint has EVDO on every tower in their network. This may affect rollout due to the sheer number of towers, but once it’s done, Sprint will have a fast 3G network that could compete with DSL and cable providers! Verizon may have an easier time rolling out Rev A due to the number of towers that they have with EVDO, but this will also create more congestion due to the limited number of 1900 MHz towers on Verizon’s network. Theoretically, we could be seeing this change over as soon as a year from now.