Intel

Nokia readies new low-cost 3G Booklet

Paul Rasmussen — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:10:45 -0400

With its Booklet 3G netbook only just becoming available, Nokia is close to finalising the details for the next version that will likely ship during the second half of 2010. Having only announced its first 3G Booklet netbook three months ago, the suggestion of a follow-on product would seem to reinforce the comments recently made by Nokia execs that the company is keen to become a significant player in the 3G netbook market.

While the first 3G Booklet has been praised by the technical press for its high specifications, its €600 price has attracted understandable criticism. However, the new version is rumoured to be aiming at a lower price point and could include Intel's next generation Atom chip--codenamed Pine Trai-- that will feature an integrated memory controller and graphics processor on one chip, reducing the number of chips needed, which should also help boost battery life.

Reports from the electronics manufacturing community in Asia would indicate that the ODM partner for Nokia's Booklet 3G, hardware specialist Compal Electronics, is working hard to satisfy initial demand. This might see Nokia contract with a second ODM for the new low-cost version, providing it with additional capacity and sourcing options as it ramps up its netbook product portfolio.

For more on this story:
IT Pro

Ericsson sets out to gain dominant share of 3G embedded module market

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:21:56 -0400

In an effort to gain a significant presence within the burgeoning netbook market, Ericsson has released details of a new HSPA module it claims has been optimised for use within these miniature laptops. The company also says it has gone to the extra effort of pre-certifying the new chipset in 75 countries and with major operators' networks.

The new module, labelled the F3307 and available this August, has been engineered to conserve battery power together with an eye to keeping the chipset affordable for netbook manufacturers. Ericsson says it covered off another important element by working with Intel and Microsoft to ensure interaction with Intel's next-gen netbook platform, Pine Trail-M, and with the upcoming Windows 7. This involvement of Intel comes after the breakdown of its previous embedded 3G partnership with Nokia.

"All of these efforts lower the barriers for everyone involved--a faster time to market for manufacturers and operators, and a better experience for users," said Mats Norin, VP and head of Ericsson mobile broadband modules. "We are clearly closer to the vision of mobile broadband everywhere than we were two years ago--this is a very important step as is our efforts to build a strong netbook ecosystem."

The obvious drive behind Ericsson's interest in this sector come from the estimate that more than 300 million netbooks will be sold between 2009 and 2014 with a majority having mobile broadband capabilities--and over 30 per cent of these will be sold via operators.

For more on this story:
- see this press release from Ericsson
- and there articles from xchangemag and ReThink Wireless

Nokia pulls out of WiMAX

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:32:55 -0500

In yet another blow to the ambitions of the WiMAX camp, Nokia has announced its intention to end production of the only WiMAX device in its portfolio, the N810 tablet PC. According to a Nokia spokesman, the device had reached the end of its lifecycle, remarkably quickly it seems as the N810 was only launched nine months ago. Nokia did not rule out re-entering the WiMAX device market but this does not seem a realistic possibility. The Finnish vendor was an early and keen supporter of WiMAX but seems to have cooled on the technology.

This has not been a good week for WiMAX, which until recently was being touted as a key player in the fourth generation wireless space. Its most significant supporter, Intel, announced it was writing off the US$950 million it invested in WiMAX, leaving the highest profile WiMAX operator, Clearwire of the US, dangling in the breeze. Support for Long Term Evolution (LTE) is another key factor in depressing the hopes of WiMAX. With all the US and Chinese CDMA operators now on board, more than 80 per cent of mobile operators are committed to evolving through the LTE path leaving little room for WiMAX.

For more:
- go to ITPro.co.uk and Tech Tree

Related articles:
Nokia hoists the WiMAX flag 180 feet
Nokia ends production of N810 WiMAX tablet

Nokia and Intel notably absent from US$1bn mobile broadband push

Paul Rasmussen — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:11:22 -0400

While 16 of the largest mobile operators and technology providers have banded together to support the worldwide roll out of 3G mobile broadband across a diverse range of products, Nokia and Intel (an ardent supporter of WiMAX) were notable absentees.

The initiative, unimaginatively labelled "Mobile Broadband", has a staggering US$1 billion promotional budget which will be provided by the founding members--this includes the 3 Group, AsusTek Computer, Dell, Ericsson, Gemalto, Lenovo, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Telecom Italia Mobile, TeliaSonera, T-Mobile, Toshiba and Vodafone.

Little has been made public as to where this enormous promotional budget might be spent, although the first devices, a range of laptops bearing the new Mobile Broadband logo, will appear before Christmas.

The apparent objective of this new GSMA-led group is to try and make 3G connectivity as unobtrusive and as simple as possible, with the ultimate goal of having an instantaneous connection. "There is a lot of alphabet soup coming around the corner," said Ton Brand of the GSMA. "Whether it's HSPA, evolved HSPA or LTE, we wanted one single brand that would get consumers' attention."

The GSMA's initiative will be expanded to include USB dongles, and other devices with embedded 3G modules like cameras, MP3 players and even refrigerators.

For more on this story:
- go to Unstrung and IT ProPortal

Related articles:
Intel, Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks Collaborate on Global WiMAX Interoperability. WiMAX story
Intel: WiMAX/WiFi chip coming in ultramobile PCs. Intel story

Rumour Mill: Will Google finance French WiMAX deployment?

Paul Rasmussen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:03:24 -0400

Strenuous denials have come from all those said to be involved in deploying a nationwide WiMAX network in France. The suggested joint venture, which would involve funding from Google, was reported by the French daily Les Echos to include the ISP Free, a unit of Iliad, and Bollore Group's Bollore Telecom. While the companies mentioned--Intel Capital was also included in the Les Echo article--have refuted any suggestion of discussions or talks, Free is the sole holder of a national licence for WiMAX and Bollore Telecom holds 20 regional licences for the service. A nationwide network in France is estimated to require €1 billion investment and would need the assistance of technology providers and wealthy backers--roles that Intel Capital and Google could, and might be very eager to, fulfil.

For more on this story:
- go to Forbes

Related stories:
Europe's first mobile WiMAX network goes live. Mobile WiMAX story
Clearwire eyes European WiMAX partnerships. Clearwire WiMAX story