If you want the very latest in mobile broadband technology then look no further than a built-in 3G data card. Built-in to your laptop, you’ll be able to connect to the internet, no matter where you are, without having to plug in a dongle or a USB modem stick - truly wireless mobile broadband.
What are they?
Internal 3G data cards are simply mobile broadband modems that are built-in to your laptop with a slot for you to insert your SIM card into, so you won’t need to sign up to one of the mammoth contracts or fork out a lot of cash for a USB modem stick or dongle - though you will of course need to sign up to a either a pay-as-you-go or one month mobile broadband package or a 24, 18 or 12 month mobile broadband contract to set yourself up with a monthly data allowance.
Am I restricted to one provider?
Although different laptop manufacturers have teamed up with different mobile broadband providers to offer internal 3G data cards, you’re not actually restricted to that one provider.
For example, Fujitsu Siemens joined Orange (www.Orange.co.uk) to offer built-in mobile broadband with its Lifebook E range laptops, but as Orange explained, the laptops are “not ‘SIM-locked’ to the Orange network. This means that if customers wish to change operator in the future, their hardware investments will not be locked to a particular network operator”.
So no matter where you get your 3G-enabled laptop, you’ll still be able to choose the right mobile broadband provider and tariff to suit your needs.
Are they future-proof?
All built-in 3G data cards are HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) enabled so that even as the UK’s 3G networks are updated and speeds are increased, you’ll continue to get the best possible connection and the fastest possible speeds on your chosen network.
Who does them?
A growing number of computer manufacturers now offer built-in 3G data cards on selected ranges.
Dell offers mobile broadband capabilities with its Inspiron 1525, XPS M1330 and XPS M1530 and is affiliated with Vodafone (www.Vodafone.co.uk), Sony’s Vaio SZ series and TZ series both now come with built-in connectivity and are affiliated with T-Mobile (www.T-Mobile.co.uk) and as mentioned above, Fujitsu Siemens joined Orange to offer 3G data cards with its Lifebook E range.
New products with internal 3G data cards are being released all the time, so check with your chosen manufacturer to see if they offer any 3G-enabled laptops.
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