Increasing speeds and falling prices are adding to the appeal of 3G Evolution Data Optimized wireless data services, which deliver broadband speeds to mobile devices.

As availability expands, more businesses are eyeing EV-DO networks that let users with a wireless phone, laptop or other device access applications and services from anywhere they get a cell phone signal.

“EV-DO has really taken off. Laptops perform very well with EV-DO connectivity,” says Rena Bhattacharyya, an analyst at research firm IDC.

The performance gain comes from EV-DO services’ transmission rates, which are comparable to those of most home DSL or cable modem offerings. The current technology, called EV-DO Revision 0, supports upload speeds of 50K to 70Kbps and download speeds of 400K to 700Kbps.

“The two big applications driving this wireless data usage are e-mail and PC-cellular data connectivity,” Bhattacharyya says. “E-mail performed just fine with 2G and 2.5G services, but you really needed higher-speed connections to get your PC laptop connection to have a compelling experience,” she says.

In the United States, Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless are leading the charge to expand EV-DO coverage. Sprint says its 3G network is available in 220 markets and 8,700 cities and potentially can reach as many as 188 million customers. Verizon Wireless does not offer a market or city count, but says its EV-DO network potentially can reach as many as 150 million customers in the United States.

One early adopter is Pittsburgh-based Union Switch & Signal (US&S), which makes signaling and control equipment for railroads and mass transit industries.