Despite the problems that some business travellers experience with using third generation (3G) datacards with their laptops while on the road, Vodafone is pressing ahead with the launch of 3.5G datacards this week.
3.5G, or high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) to give it its technical name, offers download speeds of up to 1.4Mbps (with an average of 400 to 700Kbps) and upload speeds of up to 384 Kbps. This compares to maximum download rates of 384Kbps and upload rates of 64Kbps with existing 3G services.
Vodafone has chosen to ditch the 3.5G label, preferring to call the new technology 3G broadband, and it is rolling out the higher speed networks in Greater London, Glasgow, Sheffield, Greater Manchester and Tyneside initially. The firm anticipates that its UK 3G network will be entirely upgraded to 3.5G by summer 2007.
Pricing remains consistent with existing Vodafone 3G plans, starting from £25 (excl VAT) per month (Data 250), which includes 250 Mb of data. For £45 (excl VAT) per month (Data Unlimited) you get unlimited usage (subject to a fair use policy). Cards cost £99 on the Data 250 price plan and £49 on the Data Unlimited price plan.
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The firm has also announced that three leading PC manufacturers – Dell, Acer and Lenovo – are to offer laptops with built in 3.5G capability, in much the same way that WiFi is built in to many of today’s laptops. Dell’s D620, for example, is selling for £699 + VAT with built-in Vodafone 3.5G.
John Delaney, principal analyst with IT analyst Ovum, says: “Businesses should welcome the availability of faster 3G networks in the UK. The speeds that HSDPA can deliver under real-life operating conditions will significantly improve the mobile working experience, enabling mobile workers to do things more quickly and easily. Employers in some industry sectors should expect to see some real productivity gains as a result.”