Other vendors and carriers talk about upcoming 2.5G (generation) and 3G wireless services, but Metricom's Ricochet service is here now, and it works. The new Ricochet modem is an order of magnitude faster for sustained download throughput than any other wireless service in widespread deployment.

A New Generation

The new Ricochet device is the first major enhancement of the initial 28.8-Kbps generation of Metricom Ricochet wireless modems that we've been using for years. Even the first-generation product, however, has proved significantly faster, more reliable and less expensive than other available wireless WAN options.

Metricom made the right choices for both its first-generation offering and its current devices--the transceivers are small, have a long battery life and operate as standard external modems. Metricom's network is IP-capable, a key differentiator from non-IP, paging-network competitors, such as the BellSouth Mobitex network used by Palm for its Palm VII device.

In-building penetration is good with Ricochet as well, thanks to its dedicated microcell architecture. You can even use the service while in a car (though we don't recommend it) or on a train. The first-generation Ricochet blew away the competition for performance (see "A World Without Wires").

The only major drawback to Metricom's earlier service was its severely limited geographical availability; the first-generation Ricochet service was available only in the San Francisco Bay area, the Washington metro area, Seattle, parts of New York and a handful of airports.

The newest Ricochet modem is, like the first-generation model, an external device, though a PCMCIA card is in the works. The new modem is approximately the same size as the first--3.5 inches by 5 inches, one-inch thick, and about 10 ounces. The lithium-ion battery has a long life and is removable, making it possible to carry spares for extended trips. The AC adapter is also quite small and has not changed from the previous-generation Ricochet. A miniature serial connector on the modem can be used with either of two included cables, one for standard nine-pin serial ports and another for USB.

Modem Tests

I tested the modem with an Apple Computer PowerBook G3/ 500 running Mac OS 9.0.4, a Dell Computer Latitude CPx with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1 and Palm's Palm IIIc. With all three devices, the modem connected and performed flawlessly; it operated as a standard external modem. I could connect to my POP3 accounts on various ISPs, browse the Web, and send and receive standard TCP/ IP traffic.

Used along with a VPN (virtual private network) client, the Ricochet would be a road warrior's dream for remote connectivity. For enterprises that want to offer remote and mobile users high-speed Internet and intranet access, the Ricochet provides some compelling advantages over wired alternatives. Instead of having to pay and then wait for a dedicated connection to be wired to a particular worker's house for DSL or ISDN, you can hand out an activated Ricochet modem and save time, hassles and money. And, unlike a wired line, the modem can be moved from place to place and person to person instantly.

The throughput isn't going to rival higher levels of DSL service, but it's at least as fast as dual-channel ISDN--fast enough for most uses. Metricom representatives I talked to regarding the company's network infrastructure indicated that the current throughput bottleneck is the end-user device, the unlicensed-band Ricochet modem, rather than any other element in the architecture. As DSP (Digital Signal Processor) chipsets improve for the modem, ramping up to even higher levels of throughput may be possible.

Even with the current configuration, the device's throughput was extraordinary, generally surpassing Metricom's claims. I conducted my initial tests in Atlanta, with additional testing in and around Baltimore. The Metricom high-speed wireless network has been in place in Atlanta for some time, and Metricom considers it stable, while Baltimore is still being tweaked. Interestingly, the only connectivity problems I encountered were in Atlanta, and my throughput results were significantly lower there than in Baltimore.

Part of this may have to do with the choice of test location. In and around the convention center at NetWorld+Interop, I got inconsistent and suspicious results, because of idiosyncrasies associated with wireless reception in the convention center, which had a dedicated Metricom access point but was also blanketed with all manner of RF signals and network traffic--hardly a representative environment.

Another test site near the Atlanta airport was on the fringes of the Ricochet coverage area, so again, that may not be representative of the typical user experience.

File Transfers

Real-world testing was accomplished by sending and receiving files of known size over the Ricochet device, and timing transfer duration over repeated trials. I used both POP3 e-mail messages and HTTP traffic, along with FTP transfers. Because upload and download throughput are asymmetric with this device, I got separate results for sending and receiving data. I followed a similar methodology for the wireless WAN tests conducted last June to "A World Without Wires," so results generally should be comparable with those figures.

HTTP traffic tests involved transfer of data files between 20 KB and 500 KB. The POP3 traffic showed the expected effect of the overhead time required to make the connection, but as file size increases, throughput picks up. Ricochet's HTTP download speeds in Baltimore showed real sustained throughput of 178 Kbps to 230 Kbps, with an average of 203 Kbps. This is considerably faster than Metricom's advertised 128 Kbps. One caveat is that this figure probably represents a very low level of network utilization because the service has just become available in the Baltimore area. FTP transfers were similarly speedy, averaging 182 Kbps.

POP3 speeds were much lower because of connection overhead, with uploads measured at 1,730 bps for the 11-KB file, 2,670 bps for a 22-KB file and 3,461 bps for the 45-KB test file. Download speeds were 2,565 bps, 5,285 bps and 6,723 bps, respectively.

Speeds in Atlanta were significantly lower, at 83.35 Kbps for HTTP download, with almost identical results for FTP download, and POP3 upload speeds of 1,402 bps, 1,900 bps and 3,302 bps for the 11-KB, 22-KB and 45-KB files (I didn't conduct the POP3 download tests in Atlanta). Again, these slower results might be due to my testing on the fringe of Metricom's service area. Nevertheless, the transfer times are still fast compared with observed data rates under similar tests for alternative services, such as CDPD, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and Mobitex.

Change in Plans

Metricom tried to do it all with its first-generation Ricochet service -- deploying the microcellular infrastructure, designing and manufacturing the modems, and doing all the distribution and marketing as well. Despite a solid technological solution, the company was clearly stretched too thin, and the earlier Ricochet service never really reached its full potential. The new Metricom Ricochet service is being offered exclusively through resellers, called Ricochet Authorized Service Providers. And Metricom has partnered with some big names: WorldCom is offering the Ricochet service, and UUNet has a new integrated "mobile worker" package that includes DSL, nationwide dial-up and a WorldCom Ricochet modem.

Other resellers include GoAmerica Communications Corp., Juno Online Services and Wireless WebConnect. Metricom plans to select a limited number of resellers to avoid pricing wars, so the typical $70 to $80 per month unlimited-access connection charges (plus about $300 for the modem) seen thus far will likely remain for the foreseeable future.

Backed by deep-pocketed investors such as Paul Allen, the new Metricom service is scheduled for deployment to 46 major markets by early next year, which addresses the perennial concern regarding Ricochet service--limited coverage area. The current slate of cities in which Metricom is already offering or in the process of building out its 128-Kbps-capable wireless network includes Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay area. Washington and Seattle offer the older 28.8-Kbps service, with a switch-over to the high-speed service planned within the next several months. Careful examination of the coverage map (see www.metricom.com/about_us/coverage_maps/index.html) is obviously essential when considering the suitability of Ricochet for enterprise deployments. But if the new high-speed Ricochet service is available in your area, it's worth a very close look.

Aside from the moderately high price point, this hits all the sweet spots. For the first time, the reality of the wireless Web doesn't have to be about compromise. Users can surf at high speeds to their hearts' content, wherever they are. And whistle a dirge for ISDN as you go.

Send your comments on this article to Richard Hoffman at rhoffman@nwc.com.