USB HSDPA modems are better, as they don’t heat up your computer, but are either like a large USB stick or are shaped like a small bar of soap that you use a small USB cable to connect to your computer. But now you have something else that’s plugged into your computer, ready to get yanked out accidentally or get in the way of things – let alone taking up one of your USB slots! But at least they don’t heat up your palm rest or keyboard.

The obvious answer is to build the card in for consumers, and let them use this if they want it. Some laptop manufacturers now offer a built-in solution and have for some time on selected models, but it would be better if it was baked into the recipe from the word ‘go’ instead of being added on as a garnish afterwards.

So, for supposed reasons of cost, the plan has been dumped. Perhaps Nokia wants people to use their 3.5G cell phones through Bluetooth or a cable connection with their laptop computers – but this is annoying, and often the data plans are not as generous on your cell phone plan as they are on a straight data card plan.

Or perhaps Intel decided they didn’t want to proceed with Nokia. I’ve no way of knowing, but perhaps Intel thinks WiMAX really will happen sooner rather than later, and why build in WiMAX’s natural competition – the world of GSM technology – right into the box when they’ve invested so much already into GSM’s biggest threat – WiMAX technology?

From that point of view, it’s a wonder they ever even thought of doing it in the first place. And despite this announcement, both Intel and Nokia say they’re still thinking about implementing HSDPA in the future anyway.

So despite the seeming reality that HSDPA (and its even faster successors) will ultimately make their way to being built-into notebooks, it won’t be happening in the 2007 generation of ‘Santa Rosa’ Centrino products to presumably give WiMAX as much of a boost as possible in the face of an HSDPA onslaught.

From the point of view of network choice and pressure on costs for access, generous download limits and cheaply priced global roaming, ensuring WiMAX gets up and goes global is important for consumers.

Not being able to have HSDPA built-into the next-generation by Intel looks is the price we have to pay, making an upcoming purchase of a PC Card, Expresscard or USB modem for access to wireless broadband inevitable.

It’s ultimately just a speed bump on the path to wireless broadband truly being available just about anywhere on Earth at very high speeds – but an annoying shame that consumers have to put up with nonetheless.
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3G  4G  Alex Zaharov-Reutt  Broadband  Cellphones  Cellular networks  Fixed-mobile convergence  Global networks  HSDPA  Intel  Internet  Standards  Telecommunications  Web  WiMAX  Wireless broadband  wiFi