GSM Association (GSMA) has announced that mobile operators, PC manufacturers and chipset providers are uniting to pre-install Mobile Broadband chips into a range of laptops.
The notebook PCs with the Mobile Broadband service mark will be ready to “switch on and surf straight out of the box in 91 countries across the world”.
ASUS today announced that it will be adding 3.75G mobile broadband connectivity to its Eee PC netbooks, “enabling convenient and high-speed access to the Internet anytime, anywhere”.
“With 3.75G, the Eee PC will be able to deliver on its promise of borderless one-day computing better than ever before. No longer bound to Internet hotspots, 3.75G-equipped Eee PC users will be able to enjoy low latency mobile broadband Internet access at high downlink and uplink speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps and 2 Mbps respectively,” Asus says.
Qualcomm’s Gobi global mobile Internet technology has been certified for use on the AT&T mobile broadband network, the companies announced yesterday.
“Gobi technology gives users the freedom to connect to the Internet over wide-area wireless networks, providing fast, secure and convenient mobile broadband access and GPS functionality virtually anywhere in the world via leading 3G wireless networks. With Gobi-embedded notebook computers running on the AT&T network, customers will realize higher connection speeds, as well as access to the nation’s fastest 3G service when in the U.S. and the industry’s largest international wireless footprint when abroad,” the press release says.
Intel today unveiled its Centrino 2 mobile platform for laptops, formerly codenamed “Montevina”.
Improvements in the latest notebook platform include better performance and longer battery life via new Intel Core 2 45-nanometer processors and Mobile Intel 45 Express chipsets, as well as faster draft 802.11n wireless. In addition, Centrino 2 with vPro-branded notebooks incorporate the new business-class manageability capabilities.
Sony Ericsson announced yesterday the MD400 and MD400g HSPA mobile broadband USB modems, providing users with 7.2Mb/s download and up to 2.0Mb/s upload speeds.
The Sony Ericsson MD400 and MD400g are the first USB modems with combined M2 Memory Stick Micro and microSD card slot. The modems have a built-in antenna complemented with an additional swivel ‘Diversity’ antenna for better performance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.â€
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.
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.
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.
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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