Novatel’s XU870 HSDPA ExpressCard: 7.2 Mbps worldwide?
Novatel’s Merlin XU870 HSDPA ExpressCard is now shipping to carriers in certain countries, namely: Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal and New Zealand. The ExpressCard modem should eventually find its way to U.S. shores since Novatel says "it is a tri-band HSDPA/UMTS and quad-band EDGE/GPRS product that allows for worldwide roaming between HSDPA networks in North America and Europe."
Initially, the card will offer throughput of up to 3.6 Mbps, but once network infrastructures are upgraded, a software firmware application will double the theoretical throughput. Makes me reconsider my long term 3G strategy….hmmm…..any news on the UMPC front for ExpressCard slots yet?
(via Laptoping)
Wonder what the power consumption on an express card is.. That would be my only concern for my UMPC. For now using my cell phone works fine. Would be cool to finally have something to pop in my express card slot on my macbook pro though.. Will have to keep an eye on this one.
The image of the card looks like a pcmcia card and not an express card….???
I got a card from Vodafone NZ a couple of days before the Engadget post. Here is the card in the wild: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/freitasm/1519 and here is a test in my local mall: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/freitasm/1554
If you want something for the UMPC, go for the USB options. Tne vodem for example: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=6732 is a USB HSDPA device and comes with all drivers in its flash memory, ready to use – no CD to install drivers, perfect for those UMPC.