Top computer makers, mobile operators and technology providers announced on Tuesday that upcoming laptop computers would feature mobile broadband making them ready to surf right out of the box.
Led by the GSM Association (GSMA), a global trade association of mobile operators, the group of 16 companies said the "Mobile Broadband" service mark would be pre-installed on laptop and notebook PCs coming out later this year.
Equipped with "ready to run" wireless Mobile Broadband devices, the GSMA said in a statement that the "always-connected" PCs would be "ready to switch on and surf straight out of the box in 91 countries across the world."
The computers would be pre-configured to connect to the Internet via GSM networks used by many telecom operators around the world.
GSMA's chief marketing officer Michael O'Hara said several hundred thousand of the Mobile Broadband-equipped laptops could be in stores for the Christmas shopping season.
"The Mobile Broadband badge will assure consumers that the devices they buy will always connect - wherever Mobile Broadband is available - and that they can expect a high standard of simplicity and mobility,' he said.
Mobile Broadband was described by the GSMA-led group as a "compelling alternative to Wi-Fi," whose signals require a "hot spot" and reach a few hundred yards or less.
Mobile Broadband is also seen as a competing wireless broadband network to WiMAX, which can move data faster and longer distances but whose use is not very widespread for the moment. WiMax uses a licensed channel of radio spectrum and can transmit as far as 30 miles (50 kilometers) with a stronger signal than Wi-Fi and access faster than most current devices.
The GSMA, citing a study by Wireless Intelligence, said more than 55 million people currently subscribe to Mobile Broadband services in 91 countries.
The 16 members of the group plan to spend one billion dollars promoting the Mobile Broadband brand over the next year. Members of the group include Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, 3 Group, Asus, ECS, Ericsson, Gemalto, Orange, Qualcomm, Telefonica Europe, Telecom Italia, TeliaSonera, T-Mobile, and Vodafone.
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