More firms turn to 3G to get data on the move

Tag : Antenna Plug

Laptops with support for 3G mobile networks are set to account fora much larger share of the market in future, according tocommunications vendor Sierra Wireless . The firm also said it sees little threat to the cellular networksfrom upcoming wireless technologies such as WiMax , despite the latter being given substantial backing from industrygiants such as Intel.

Sierra Wireless is one of the leading global suppliers of 3Gmodules and adapters. In June, the firm introduced its latestproducts, the MC8790 and MC8790V embedded modules, which supporthigh-speed packet access (HSPA) capability at up to 7.2Mbit/s onthe downlink and 2Mbit/s on the uplink. These modules are intendedfor laptop vendors looking to embed 3G broadband capability intotheir systems, a market that is growing rapidly, according to LarryZibrik, Sierra’s director of marketing and productmanagement.

“A million and a half laptops shipped with embedded 3G in2007, and this year I believe we will see from two to threemillion,” he said, adding that other markets such as 3Grouters are likely to account for the same volume. Cisco is a bigcustomer for Sierra’s hardware.

Overall, the 3G attach rate is set to grow at almost 100 per centper year in the near future, according to Zibrik, but with aninteresting split occurring between business users and consumers.While corporate buyers are opting for laptops with 3G capabilitybuilt in via an embedded modem and antenna, consumers are drivingdemand for plug-in dongles that connect to a laptop USB port.

This trend perhaps reflects the fact that a 3G modem is still arelatively costly item to integrate if not all buyers want it. Andwhile consumers can add this if need be, corporate buyers are morelikely to see wide-area connectivity as a necessity.