HSPA heaven and GPS goodness from Ericsson and Dell

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 16 May 2008 05:27

Opinion and Analysis

Mats Norin, Vice President, Mobile Broadband Modules, Ericsson said that:  “Consumers are increasingly utilizing notebooks to access the high-capacity services that they have typically experienced only through a wired or WiFi connection. We are excited to work with Dell to give consumers and business users the freedom and flexibility to access internet in the way they want it, wherever they are.”

John Thode, Vice President Small Devices, Dell Consumer Group said that: “Dell’s model is uniquely capable of putting the technology and wireless service in customers' hands. Teaming with Ericsson to offer built-in HSPA in our laptops ensures Dell delivers on the basic assumption that one can access critical information anytime, anywhere, with the speed and rich content that we have all come to expect,"

Ericsson says its solution is “seamlessly integrated with and optimized to work within the notebook, the built-in mobile broadband module provides superior downloading and uploading performance and takes less power from the battery” – with lower power usage something of particular usefulness to notebook users.

Ericsson also says that it is leveraging its “in-house HSPA chipset technology and the company’s economies of scale and longstanding operator relationships” and can therefore “offer a very competitive mobile broadband module solution that will help further drive a mass market for mobile broadband”.

Ericsson quotes “market projections” which estimate around 200 million notebooks will ship annually by 2011, and that 50% of those will have an HSPA module – with Ericsson obviously hoping that as much of that 50% as possible features Ericsson’s technology.

Colin Goodwin, Strategic Marketing Manager – Networks, Ericsson Australia, had much to say about the announcement.

Says Goodwin: "Embedded HSPA modules enable always-available mobile broadband that is tightly integrated with the notebook. Not only is there no need to purchase and carry a separate card or dongle that can be lost or damaged, but embedded modules have better radio performance and lower power consumption than an external card."

"We see mobile broadband being integrated into notebooks and other devices in three waves: first in notebooks aimed at business users; second in notebooks aimed at consumers; and third in other consumer electronic devices such as GPS navigators, in-car entertainment systems, gaming devices and cameras."

"Ericsson has a long-term vision to bring mobile broadband to all notebooks and connected devices - consumer electronics is going mobile. We believe we are uniquely positioned to reshape the mobile broadband market and will leverage our worldwide leadership, extensive knowledge in radio design and our mobile platform technology." 

"I am already an avid user of HSPA for keeping in touch with the office when I'm on the road; the extra speed and convenience makes it much better than hotel LANs or WiFi access. I'm looking forward to when I can connect without having to fiddle with external cards or dongles”, concluded Goodwin.