I can get either the USB720 or the UM150 for no cost with the 5GB Verizon plan. Which modem is the best choice and why ??

the UM150 is the only EVDO device to feature four LED lights on its body that represent the signal it is receiving.

The lights act like bars on a cell phone. Very useful when you are using UM150 attached to a router.

Additionally, the UM150 has swiveling USB connector, allowing it to rotate up and out of the way, rather than stick straight out like a USB720 would (unless you used USB720 on end of cable)

Lastly, the UM150 features a microSD slot that will accept up to a 4GB memory card, allowing the UM150 to double as a storage device.

those features distinguish the UM150.

neither is faster than the other, given the same EVDO signal.

-- alex

PS: here's a photo of UM150 attached to Cradlepoint PHS300 router. you can clearly see the "signal lights" on UM150, and how it is rotated up rather than sticking straight out from USB port.

I picked the UM150 for a few reasons over the other aircards:

1. The UM150 has a signal meter display built into it, no having to open software up to view signal, just power it up and it will tell you it's status.

2. The UM150 also has an external antenna that has a connected plug cover, so I don't end up loosing the plug when I have the ext antenna plugged in. Keeping the antenna port dust/dirt free is important to long life.

3. The UM150 is one of the most compact aircards I've seen yet, it is just slightly wider and longer (1" maybe at the most) than a pack of AA batteries.

The USB plug swivels to make it viewable if you have a sideways mounted USB port on your PC/laptop. The antenna in the UM150 also extends out of the card's body to get a little better reception than the comparable models. It's not enough to really notice though.

There is a microSD card slot on the UM150 if you want to utilize it as a flashdrive/jumpdrive too, I can't remember if the other 720 offers this or not. I have a 2GB microSd card in my UM150, which holds alot of documents for work for me.

On Edit: Alex pretty much sums it up. Didn't see his post until after I finished this one. The router (phs300) in the pic and the UM150 are what I have exactly, flawless operation with no resets or complaints since I hooked them together over a month ago Great signal strength for me, especially with my ext wilson antenna hooked up.

UM150 for sure.

I have the 727 and long for the UM150. I should have gotten it in the first place....

Yep, I am with Jack. I have the 720 and if I knew then what I know now I would have chosen the free 150.
Dan

I have the UM150 and it is a gem. I have gotten a great signal so far from it no matter where i am traveling. Of course, that may be a different story once i get out on BLM lands in the west. Time will tell i guess.