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.
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.
Wisair, a provider of Ultra Wideband and Wireless USB chipset solutions, is demonstrating at 3GSM World Congress the use of Wireless USB chip embedded into a mobile phone with camera to wirelessly send images and video to a notebook computer.
The demo, based on Certified Wireless USB technology, uses the Wisair 542 chip embedded into a Nokia N series camera phone.
There is no info on availability of mobile phones providing this technology.
Wisair says its Certified Wireless USB chipset is also ideal for a range of applications, such as digital cameras and camcorders, printers and scanners, external hard drives, PDAs, portable media players, TVs, DVD/PVR players, etc.
The Wireless USB provides data rate modes in range from 53.3 to 480 megabytes per second and coexistence with 802.11 and Bluetooth connections, according to the company.
Press Release
Sony Ericsson today unveiled the PC300 Mobile Broadband PC Card for laptops with HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, CSD and SMS network support .
“The PC300 is Sony Ericsson’s first to support four generations of the world’s most popular cellular wireless technology – HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE and GPRS – providing you with the same broadband speed as you enjoy from your fixed connection in the office or at home. This robust PC Card has a fully integrated, unobtrusive antenna so you can keep it in your laptop all the time,” the press release says.
Intel today officially introduced the Next-Gen Wireless-N network connection, an upgrade to the wireless component found inside Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology and other Intel-based laptops.
“Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, the Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N technology offers users up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range – while providing up to an extra hour of notebook battery life when compared to existing Draft-N products,” according to Intel.
UTStarcom announced the exclusive U.S. distribution of the PC5750 Mobile Broadband Connection Card, “the fastest and largest-memory-capacity PCMICIA card the company offersâ€, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week.
Belkin introduced the N1 Wireless ExpressCard for notebooks, based on the draft 802.11n wireless standard with Intelligent MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology, at CES 2007 in Las Vegas this week.
“Connecting through your notebook’s ExpressCard slot, this Card doubles your available bandwidth so you can run multimedia applications, such as streaming HD video and online games, as well as expands your wireless range and reliably connect to wireless hotspots,” the press release says.
Belkin N1 Wireless ExpressCard is currently available in U.S. for $99.99, with launches in Asia, Europe, and Australia to follow.
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