Archive for the 'Wireless & Laptops' Category

Acer today unveiled its new Aspire 5920 notebook PC model, which features a built-in WiMax module. The laptop is planned to sell through Sprint Nextel and other companies, PC World reports.

The new 5920 will be available by the end of this year and will be sold along with WiMax service in a manner similar to the way mobile phones are sold along with service packages.

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Dell’s next-generation laptops, available later this year, will support a single-card EV-DO and HSPA 3G network connections through Qualcomm’s Gobi solution, the PC maker announced yesterday.

Dell explains that, using the Qualcomm Gobi, U.S.-based travelers who connect their laptops via EV-DO carrier networks (like Verizon Wireless or Sprint), will be also able to connect via HSPA carrier networks (like European Vodafone). Today customers who wish to connect to both types of networks must use two different mobile broadband cards.

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T-Mobile will give one year of complimentary T-Mobile HotSpot access to people who donate an OLPC XO laptop to a child in a developing country through the Give One Get One campaign.

The Give One Get One campaign by non-profit organization One Laptop Per Child will last from November 12 to November 26. During this period, people can donate $399 for two laptops. One laptop will be given to a child in the developing world. The other laptop will be sent to the donor along with information on how to activate the one year of complimentary T-Mobile HotSpot service.

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Verizon Wireless has announced the UM150 USB wireless modem, optimized for the company’s EV-DO Rev. A network and the BroadbandAccess service. This modem, which connects to laptop and desktop computers via a USB port, also features a microSD memory slot.

According to the press release, users of the UM150 USB modem in Verizon’s EV-DO Rev. A coverage areas are provided with average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500- 800 kbps. This means that customers can download a 1MB file in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds.

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The Sierra Wireless AirCard 881 LaptopConnect card for AT&T 3G wireless network is now available. This Type II PC Card for notebooks supports enhanced upload speeds between 500 Kbps and 800 Kbps reportedly.

“Compatible with High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technologies, the AirCard 881 PC will enable average upload speeds between 500 Kbps and 800 Kbps as AT&T commences the industry’s first U.S. deployment of High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA). After completion of comprehensive testing and certification, AT&T is rolling out HSUPA technology in its network today, with availability to be announced in select U.S. markets later this fall,” the press release says.

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Hewlett-Packard released today the HP Pavilion dv2500t Broadband Wireless notebook, which has a built-in support for the Verizon BroadbandAccess WWAN service.

The Pavilion dv2500t laptops have been already offered with the external Wireless V740 ExpressCard for the Verizon’s WWAN network, while the dv2500t Broadband Wireless notebooks provide the WWAN connectivity via a built-in module.

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved yesterday the first WiMAX laptop card. The approved Clearwire Corporation’s WiMAX-class product is made to connect to the Clearwire network and is on target to be available during the second half of this year.

Clearwire’s WiMAX notebook card fits into a standard Type II laptop card slot and is compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista and XP operating systems.

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Along with AirCard 875U USB mobile broadband modem, AT&T has announced the Option GT Max 3.6 Express ExpressCard, enabling notebook users to connect to AT&T’s 3G network.

The Option GT Max 3.6 Express and Sierra Wireless AirCard 875U, the products in AT&T’s LaptopConnect portfolio, can be used in conjunction with AT&T BroadbandConnect in more than 165 major markets — where users can download a 1MB file in about 15 seconds on average. Also, these modems provide the connectivity outside 3G-coverage areas on AT&T’s nationwide EDGE high speed wireless data network, according to the company.

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Sierra Wireless today announced the AirCard 875U USB modem will be available from AT&T. The AirCard 875U USB modem offers tri-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity for PC and Mac users, making it compatible with mobile broadband networks worldwide, with data speeds up to 3.6 megabits per second, Sierra Wireless published today.

“As notebook computers become ever more compact, there are many users without a PC card slot who are looking for an alternative,” said Dan Schieler, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales for Sierra Wireless. “The AirCard 875U offers the same reliable, high quality performance customers have come to expect from our AirCard products, and the flip-out USB connector allows customers to purchase it with the confidence that it will be compatible with not only their current laptop, but also with one they may be planning to buy in the future.”

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The networking solutions provider D-Link has announced immediate availability of the Xtreme N Notebook ExpressCard (DWA-643), featuring draft 802.11n wireless connectivity.

“This draft 802.11n wireless adapter delivers up to 14x faster speeds and 6x farther range than 802.11g while staying backward compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b networks,” D-Link says.

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Novatel Wireless V740 ExpressCard, which operates on Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO Revision A network, is available via Verizon since mid-March and in retail stores from last week.

Verizon claims its customers using V740 ExpressCard in areas with EV-DO Rev. A coverage can download files approximately ten times faster than customers of wireless service providers who use non-EV-DO technology.

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Qualcomm, the wireless products provider, unveiled the addition of EVDO Revision B technology to its roadmap. The EVDO Rev. B will provide claimed download data rates of up to 9.3Mbps. It is an upgrade of current EVDO Rev. A featuring 8Mbps downlink speed.

According to Arstechnica, the 9.3Mbps download would be a dream come true to many cell phone and notebook computer users who rely on EVDO for the constant net connection.

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Sierra Wireless today announced an agreement to supply the new Sierra Wireless AirCard 595U USB modem for access to the Sprint Mobile Broadband EV-DO Rev A Network.

“The AirCard 595U USB modem can be plugged directly into the USB ports of notebook or desktop computers, or can be connected through an included docking cradle. This offers an alternative for customers without PCMCIA card slots and allows them to move a single wireless data service between multiple computers. The AirCard 595U includes an internal battery to ensure optimal performance, and offers GPS capability to enable “locate and search” functionality. The AirCard 595U supports both Windows and Macintosh operating systems,” Sierra Wireless says.

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Some 34% of Internet users have logged onto the Internet using a wireless connection either around the house, at their workplace, or some place else. In other words, one-third of Internet users, either with a laptop computer, a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA), or cell phone, have surfed the Internet or checked email using means such as Wi-Fi broadband or cell phone networks, Pew Internet & American Life Project has published based on survey conducted in December 2006.

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Asustek has incorporated Intel’s Next-Gen Wireless-N network technology, based on IEEE 802.11n draft standard, in its ASUS S6Fm, V1Jp, VX2, W2P and W6Fp notebooks.

“The Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N technology provides users with up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range. Users can download and stream HD video, music and data while providing up to an extra hour of notebook battery life when compared to existing Draft-N products,” Asustek says.

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