Verizon Wireless launches static IP mobile broadband service

Mobile broadband cards are being rolled out throughout corporate America in the name of increased productivity and having always-connected employees at managers’ beck and call. But, there are some businesses that need more stability and data-security than a mobile broadband card with a dynamic IP can provide. For this particular enterprise market, Verizon Wireless is rolling out a static IP mobile broadband offering.

Verizon has added Static Internet Protocol (Static IP) to its private network, allowing business users to access the network securely with dedicated IP address assigned to each device. Managers can assign different rules and policies to every device on the network. And, since each device is assigned an IP address, managers can limit access for certain employees – ensuring that the worker is actually using the mobile broadband card for work.

Unfortunately, the static IP system blocks BlackBerry devices from connecting to RIM’s BlackBerry servers, which makes it nigh impossible for BlackBerry handsets to work with Verizon’s static IP mobile broadband service.

Verizon requires a one-time $500 setup fee and a $60 monthly data plan in order to take advantage of the static IP service. Moreover, a AAA compliant server is required to make the static IP technology work – these servers can cost between $30,000 and $40,000. Needless to say, static IP mobile broadband service is likely to be adopted by larger corporations.

[Via: RCR]