Verizon Wireless said today that it will spend $1 billion over the next two years expanding its data network nationwide: Verizon's EV-DO network is already up in San Diego and Washington, D.C. and "many major" cities will get it by this summer.
Alan Reiter has written a bunch about his experience using the network, which promises 300 Kbps to 500 Kbps speeds with the potential to burst to 2 Mbps. He says he usually gets around 200 Kbps and almost never as much as 2 Mbps.
In response to Verizon's news, AT&T Wireless is touting how its data network compares to Verizon's. AT&T Wireless has the fastest network with the widest coverage area right now. Its EDGE network, which delivers around 100 Kbps, is available nationwide. By contrast, Verizon's nationwide 1XRTT network offers over 50 Kbps. AT&T Wireless still claims to be planning to introduce a higher speed service based on the European 3G standard in four cities by the end of this year.