Life in the Fast Lane -- the Internet at 70 Miles Per Hour!

Do Not Attempt Without Professional Training... Pierre Valliere, a real estate broker in Los Angeles, writes, "... I haven't yet heard you pitch the best RE Broker tool to come along since the laptop. Ricochet R2 is here... Although Ricochet's R2 service is not yet officially online in Los Angeles ... I've been using it now for a month, and it's great. I've been getting 70 kbps, although I haven't been able to hold the signal while moving over 30 mph. However, San Diego is officially on line, and there, on the freeway, I was getting 70 kbps at 70 mph. INCREDIBLE! ...With Ricochet, I can, from the field, access the web-based MLS to pull comps and prepare Broker Price Opinions. ... Within half-an-hour of viewing a potential new listing, I can e-mail a Broker Price Opinion, complete with digital pictures, to our clients. Normally this takes our competitors at least 24-48 hours to do the same. ... I can even access our office network from the field." ... Valliere states he was a passenger at 70 mph, NOT the driver.

Note: Ricochet modems provide wireless connectivity in 11 markets nationwide: Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Washington DC. Construction is underway in other markets, including Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and St Louis. Most areas will provide access at 128 kbps, although some areas are still at 28.8 kbps. The Ricochet GS modems cost $299 (plus tax). The service cost is a flat rate of $74.95/month or $825/year. There is a $30 one-time activation fee when ordering monthly service. To sign up, click the "Get Ricochet" icon at the top of the Ricochet home page and select a service provider.

--Peter Pike