Microsoft and mobile carriers to research market for 3G laptops

By Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 05 June 2007 11:49

Strategy

Microsoft and the GSM Association, representing cellular network operators, have embarked on a global research programme to determine the mass market potential of notebook PCs with embedded wireless modems supporting access to the Internet anywhere with mobile coverage.

While the use of wirelessly connected laptops is now widespread among business users, the joint research aims to assess the opportunities to drive uptake to the majority of consumer and small business notebook users.

The collaboration will begin with a global market research study including field trials, conducted by Pyramid Research, to quantify mass market PC buyer interest in mobile broadband and to identify the key drivers of broader adoption as well as the customer value proposition.

According to the GSMA, affordable notebook PCs with embedded mobile broadband that work right 'out of the box' as easily as connecting a desktop PC to a DSL, cable or dial-up are on the horizon. There are already several Lenovo laptops and an HP Compaq 64000 on sale in Australia with inbuilt HSDPA modems, for use on the Vodafone 3G network .

Through the GSMA, 13 mobile operators are participating in the research, which is sponsored by Telefonica/O2. They are: AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular Wireless); China Mobile; DTAC; Maxis; MTN; Orange; SingTel; Smart Communications; TeliaSonera; Turkcell; Vodafone and Wind.

The GSMA says that there are already 155 networks offering 3G/W-CDMA services in 68 countries, of which 110 have already launched commercial HSPA (high speed packet access) services across 57 countries, and a further 52 operators are currently deploying the technology.