4596 3G Mobile Broadband Modem

I purchased the 4596 model modem, and have been using it (so I thought) happily for over a month. I recently tried to register it on the Zoom website and on checking the serial number realised that Amazon had actually sent me the 4595 model. No big deal, but make sure you get the thing you ordered when you receive it! It's too late for me to return it now.

Setting it up with an ATT one month data plan was trickier than expected. Main problem was that the "Zoom 7.2m Tri-Band Modem" window that should appear when the modem was first inserted did not appear, and the instructions enclosed with the modem gave no telephone support line, just web chat, which produced the message that no chat personnel were available even though it was normal business hours at their location, and an email query would be answered in 72 hours!. Fortunately Zoom's website did have a phone support line for the 3g modem, 617-753-0965, which was answered and the problem dealt with politely.One other problem, which is actually the first you encounter, was that the ATT website shown in the Zoom instruction sheet did not work. The store could not sell this data plan to me, so I needed the web. I finally got to the correct set of forms to fill out for a data plan by just using the front half of the URL shown in the Zoom instruction sheet, namely: [...]. (The ATT store gave me the sim chip, at least.) Before you go to ATT.com, I advise that you write legibly three sets of numbers so tiny a magnifying glass is needed, since they must be entered more than once: in the forms, in registering the Zoom modem with Zoom, and spoken in getting the above-mentioned phone support. Two of the numbers are inside the sliding sim card cover of the Modem, too tiny, but also bigger on the side of the box it arrives in. The third is the tiny low-contrast number on the back of the SIM card from ATT.Once support showed me how to adjust my netbook's connections (see below), the software, apparently residing in the modem, was installed in the netbook and worked. A Zoom icon appears on the desktop and leads to the dialog box described in the instruction sheet, where the modem is "connected" and "disconnected". It is not clear how important it is to disconnect it when not in use, other than to save battery power, since ATT charges not for the time one is online but for the amount of data transferred, the one month plan allowing 1 GB or less used within a 30 days for (today) $50.It is good to know how to disable the wi-fi system in the laptop when using the cel modem so it does not try to connect to unprotected signals from neighborhood wi fi systems. On Windows XP that is via START / Connect To (or Settings/ Network Connections in some versions) and then right-clicking the connection in question to disable or enable it.The Zoom modem works. With an ATT data plan, you have to be where ATT has a 3g signal. They have different pre-paid plans for travel abroad (50 MB in 30 days is $60 - today.), but with the modem being unlocked, an overseas provider's data plan may be cheaper.

Why did I get a modem with a 4595 sticker inside when I ordered a 4596? It came in a 4596 box. Have not had a chance to try out yet, but would like to know which one I really have. How can I tell?

I've been wondering if the Zoom USB modems, which are touted as "works geat with AT&T 3G...no long-term service commitment required" would work with an AT&T GoPhone SIM card. In short, yes - using a GoPhone SIM card with a Zoom model 4596 data modem does work, and it works easily and quickly.With the Zoom modem and AT&T GoPhone service, I can just put in $5 or $15 at a time, and get 10 or 100Mb of service. I've topped off my SIM card with $25 worth of data, which gives me 500Mb of data. I just need to top this off every month with a $5 purchase, and the unused data will roll over. If I only use 100Mb of data every month (about one weekend's use per month), then this $25 and 500Mb can last five months, with an additional infusion of $5 each month to roll over the remaining, unused data. The total for five months would be about $45.I took a SIM card from a smartphone to try this out. I have a feeling that AT&T would not approve this kind of usage with their GoPhone service, so I am not going to tell them, nor did I go into a store with this modem in my hand asking them about it.With this setup, I really am just paying as I go, with just a low $5 to roll over my unused data from month to month. I've been waiting a long time for this kind of service and price. Awesome!All of these modems require that you use their software on your laptop to connect the modem to the internet. I had trouble with another modem initially when having to use their software to connect the modem to the internet.I bought a Cradlepoint PHS-300 wifi hotspot, and this has solved the problem. I just plug in a USB modem into this little box, and it creates a wifi hotspot instantly. Both my Virgin Mobile and AT&T USB modems work with this great little device, and I don't have to deal with complicated modem drivers on my laptop anymore. Any of my wifi devices can then hook up to the network, such as my ipad. Awesome, simple to use, fast.

I was truely disappointed in this item. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. When I was able to actualy access the internet the service was so slow. If I would access a website with alot of data it would freeze up. This had to be a result of being dial up. I really wanted this to work..... :-(

I bought the Zoom modem for sending text messages with an open source program called FrontlineSMS. I've been using it in the US with the SIM card from my AT&T phone, and it works great. After you plug the Zoom into your computer for the first time, find it in Windows Explorer and run its installation program. (It will show up as a removable storage device.) After running the installation program, FrontlineSMS found it, no problem, and is able to send and receive text messages with it.Some reviewers of the Zoom modem products have written that they had to call Zoom tech support, and had to modify APN settings or profiles. Perhaps because I'm only using its SMS functions, not using it as a general data modem, I did not have to do this.Anyway, no complaints.

I bougth this it said it would work att but i have had no luck. it seams to function but can not get any internet.