Triangle Trip

I had issues connecting my AT&T VPN client using my Sprint broadband card as my internet service provider. The Sprint connection would drop right after I am connected to the VPN. I searched the AT&T VPN client site and forums but couldn’t find an answer. I also contacted Sprint but their technical support is pathetic.

After trying different configuration settings on the Sprint SmartView client, I finally got the AT&T VPN client to be connected to the Sprint network. This may seem easy to folks with adequate documentation from their IT staff but I was working as a consultant with limited resources. Hence I am sharing my findings with my readers.

Here are step by step instructions to get the AT&T VPN client up and running on your Sprint mobile broadband:

1.  On your SmartView Settings, make sure you have selected: “Use this as my default Wi-Fi management utility”

2.  Go to the “Rules Engine Tab” (see picture below)

3.  Under:  “Use only specified device” –> SELECT: Mobile (this is optional if you have a more user friendly WIFI management utility)

4.  Under:   “When Automatically Switching Technologies” –> SELECT: “Keep Previous Connection Open”

5.  Under:  “Connection Maintenance” –> SELECT:  “Maintain established connection regardless of other network availability”

Most hotels charge $10 to $15 per night for Internet service. Furthermore, the Internet connections at hotels are spotty – especially wireless connections. Companies and consulting firms generally reimburse their employees for in-room Internet access because it is work related or expects the employee to be doing something billable when they are in their hotel rooms.

If you are frequent traveler staying at hotels and accessing the Internet for at least 5 nights a month, you have enough budget to get a mobile broadband card from Sprint or Verizon for the same price ($50 a month). The mobile broadband cards from Sprint and Verizon offer faster service and allow you to access the Web or your corporate network when your clients doesn’t allow you on their network. Additionally, you can access the Web and your corporate network while you’re idle at the airport or at a Starbucks. A full day Wifi pass at an airport or Starbucks is around $10.

So internal finance team or auditors, you need to wake up and smell the coffee. Let your consultants and employees charge in the $50 a month for a mobile broadband card because it actually saves your company and clients money. Five Internet access at a hotel, Starbucks, airport or any where for paid wifi will pay for the mobile broadband card monthly fee (of $50). Clients should also realize they are paying their consultants less when they reimburse for mobile broadband cards vs paying for the nightly Internet charges. I have used this business case at my prior employer and was able to get this through the corporate bureaucracy. I urge our readers to try the same. FYI, I own a Sprint card for nearly 3 years and love the freedom of mobile broadband.