Dell fires up 3G laptops

Built-in 3G can use less power than a PC Card

Dell plans to integrate 3G mobile data connectivity into its corporate notebook PCs later this year, having signed a deal with Vodafone to push its business customers onto the operator’s High-speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network.

The 3G communications chipset will be embedded in the PC casing rather than the motherboard, and will exist alongside integral Wi-Fi connectivity to give users the option of accessing email and the internet from any location.

Eric Greffier, a director of client marketing at Dell, said that the two technologies are complementary despite the near ubiquity of Wi-Fi hotspots at major travel hubs. He argued that HSDPA links, which ought to provide up to 1Mbit/s throughput, will help corporate users to access email from any location, using a single subscription. “In an airport, you will probably have connection options, but it might be better to use 3G rather than Wi-Fi because of access difficulties and the need to input credit card details,” Greffier said. “Also, roaming from one Wi-Fi hotspot to another is not that good.”

Customers will not be tied in to Vodafone’s OfficeLive email and internet client, added Greffier, as the mobile operator provides only the bearer service for the end users’ own applications. Dell will provide support, but customers will pay Vodafone for the service.

Dell is also working to improve portable battery life, which can be quickly drained by the integration of multiple wireless chipsets that may include WiMax in the future. “Battery life should improve [compared with using a 3G] PC Card,” Greffier said.