Intel and Nokia hang up on 3G HDSPA for next-gen Centrino

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 15 February 2007 11:15

Opinion and Analysis

The problem of a 3.5G module not being built-into the system is that if you want reliable wireless broadband (whatever the price), you’ll now have to add in your own data card or USB modem. And this is terribly inefficient and annoying for consumers. Just how expensive could such a module be?

After all, if consumers are buying data cards or USB modems, they are clearly willing to pay extra for the privilege. But these clumsy add-ons come with problems. Data cards, be they the PCMCIA (PC Card) or the mostly unavailable but new ‘smaller’ Expresscard versions suffer from one massive problem. When inserted into a computer, they heat up.

Should your PC Card slot be under the palm rest (as mine is), guess what – one side of your palm rest heats up to eventually become quite uncomfortable, making it difficult to type and concentrate while your palm is slowly cooking. Heat is not good for electronics – and it’s not good for your battery either. Data cards also stick out of your computer with some kind of antenna, exposing them to damage.

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.