[Ben]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1858628,00.asp
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=1897

When I was watching the Vodafone Group Analyst and Investor Day (http://www.vodafone.com/investor) one speaker mentioned how it is likely that 3G datacards will end up being integrated into laptops just was WiFi cards were. However, I didn't expect to see that this is actually starting to take shape already.

Yes, OK, so at the moment it's mostly making progress in the USA where data pricing is low enough to make this technology actually look attractive, but with the worlds major PC manufacturers rooted there it should mean we'll see solutions coming our way before too long - especially when we remember Vodafone has ties that side of the water.

Roll on integrated 3G wireless :)

[@NickyColman]

i must say that the possibility of 3G laptops would cause a revolution in the laptop market! At the moment, laptop users can only access through a wireless network (if in range), their mobile phone (which can be expensive) or through traditional wires. But the ability to access the internet anywhere, anytime with no wires or needing to sync with a mobile is certainly an exciting possibility!! :D



*written on an apple mac ibook*

[Ben]

I totally agree that it'd be revolutionary, it's a huge extra market for the wireless carriers - they just need to sort out data rates that'd be attractive enough for PC World sales people to be able to sell ;) I can't see any reason why integrated 3G shouldn't happen, it'd really empower laptops and could easily be the 3G killer-ap.

Edit: Btw, grats on the funky laptop... now get it hooked up via bluetooth to your phone (using your Orange SIM ;) ) and go sit on a bench somewhere with it! Laptops come into their own when they go outside.

[@NickyColman]

Yeh, its likely that quite shortly see the emergence of alliances between Mobile Operators and ISP's.

At the moment there are already a few operators who have links to ISP's;

Bt Mobile - Obviously it is part of the same company as Bt Internet

Orange - Orange and Wanadoo broadband are both owned by France Telecom and Wanadoo is soon to be re-branded to Orange. Its likely we will see Talk n Surf deals and the likes.

O2 and Ntl: currently have a partnership going on to develop mobile tv.


I reckon we are about to see major ISP's entering the mobile market. Big players are likely to strike up deals with one another to benefit off each others talents!

[Hands0n]

It is an entirely logical step to make, fitting 3G capability into a laptop. With the near-broadband speeds on offer over 3G it makes for a much better Internet experience than GPRS ever did. I like the idea lots. Much work needs to be done by the Mobile Operators to make it entirely practical though (it was never going to be a technology issue).

For a start; Contract sharing - laptop and handset USIMs on the same number made available under a single contract. Save having to swap out the USIM from Handset to Laptop, or the increased expense of yet another contract.

Data Tariff levelling - bringing down the cost of data access way below current GPRS levels. The incumbent data tariffs are prohibitively expensive for anything other than specialist/corporate/enthusiast/very-occasional use.

Probably a whole lot more too .....

[dgilbert2]

I use my laptop to connect to the Internet quite alot (2-3hrs a week) via my mobile. The connection is via Bluetooth.

Very often I have to put the phone on a window sill to get a good reception, which thanks to Bluetooth I can then sit up to 10metres away. Therefore I do not see "in-built" data cards being a success as they will not pick up good signals when compared to the bluetooth setup described! Especially a 3G signal.

[Ben]

That's a very valid point, thanks for bringing it up.

I'd hope that integrated 3G capabilities would be matched with decent internal aerials that make the most of the base and screen dimensions in order to transcieve on the best quality signal possible. However, I don't doubt that the flexibility of using handsets as modems over bluetooth is a clear advantage. It's just a shame the batteries diminish so quickly.

[oranashicola]

I can get just over 115kbps on 3G, so it's perfect, compared to 1.5kbps on CSD WAP.

[dgilbert2]

I can get just over 115kbps on 3G, so it's perfect, compared to 1.5kbps on CSD WAP.

Not the maximum 384K then?

[Ben]

I can get just over 115kbps on 3G, so it's perfect, compared to 1.5kbps on CSD WAP.
What network are you on? I can get quite far in excess of that on both the Vodafone datacard and on Orange over bluetooth.

[oranashicola]

What network are you on? I can get quite far in excess of that on both the Vodafone datacard and on Orange over bluetooth.

I'm on 3 UK. That speed was verified using a Motorola A835 connected to my PC via Bluetooth. Regardless of the handset being in GPRS/W-CDMA mode, I continually get the same connection speed.

[Ben]

I have a feeling you may need to adjust the bluetooth port speed on your laptop... I think it defaults to 115kbps. You can probably get a better throughput than that.

[dgilbert2]

I agree with Ben. My Bluetooth always says connected at 115K regardless of connection speed.

However, this is nothing to worry about. Just test your speed at somewhere like http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/speedtest.html?1084475415237.

If you get infinity then the data is being compressed and gives false speed readings. Give it a try and post your result.

On orangewap I get 384K in good signal areas.

[oranashicola]

I have a feeling you may need to adjust the bluetooth port speed on your laptop... I think it defaults to 115kbps. You can probably get a better throughput than that.
I'm using a desktop with a Belkin USB Bluetooth dongle. Unfortunately, I can't change the connection speed.

[Ben]

If you go to Control Panel > Phone and Modem Options and select the bluetooth modem then you should be able to edit the port speed. Hope that helps :)

[oranashicola]

If you go to Control Panel > Phone and Modem Options and select the bluetooth modem then you should be able to edit the port speed. Hope that helps :)

It's on full, but I still get the same speed, but who cares? :) It works for what I want, which is serving content using my PC and viewing RTE News videos.