Top computer makers, mobile operators and technology providers announced on Tuesday that upcoming laptop computers would feature mobile broadband making them ready to surf right out of the box.
Led by the GSM Association (GSMA), a global trade association of mobile operators, the group of 16 companies said the “Mobile Broadband” service mark would be preinstalled on laptop and notebook PCs coming out later this year.
Equipped with “ready to run” wireless Mobile Broadband devices, the GSMA said in a statement that the “always-connected” PCs would be “ready to switch on and surf straight out of the box in 91 countries across the world.”
The computers would be preconfigured to connect to the Internet via GSM networks used by many telecom operators around the world.
GSMA’s chief marketing officer Michael O’Hara said that several hundred thousand of the Mobile Broadband-equipped laptops could be in stores for the Christmas shopping season.
“The Mobile Broadband badge will assure consumers that the devices they buy will always connect — wherever Mobile Broadband is available,” he said.
Mobile Broadband was described by the GSMA-led group as a “compelling alternative to Wi-Fi,” whose signals require a “hot spot” and reach a few hundred yards or less.
Mobile Broadband is also seen as a competing wireless broadband network to WiMAX, which can move data faster and longer distances, but whose use is not very widespread for the moment.
The 16 members of the group plan to spend US$1 billion promoting the Mobile Broadband brand over the next year.
Members of the group include Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, 3 Group, Asus, ECS, Ericsson, Gemalto, Orange, Qualcomm, Telefonica Europe, Telecom Italia, TeliaSonera, T-Mobile and Vodafone.
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