Dell adding WiMAX to laptops, contemplating Android netbook?

Dell confirmed it will offer a $60 upgrade for three of its high-end laptops to support WiMAX. The company will offer an Intel wireless module for its Studio 15, Studio 17 and Studio XPS 16 models for use on Clearwire's network in Atlanta, Baltimore and Portland, Ore. 

[1]Clearwire plans to launch mobile WiMAX service in eight markets in 2009, and Sprint Nextel is reselling the service under the "Sprint 4G" brand.

Dell also said it is considering support for LTE in its laptops, although it did not provide specifics. Verizon Wireless plans to launch an LTE network by the end of this year, with wider commercial service rolling out next year.

In another bit of Dell news that could have serious implications for the PC market, software solutions provider Bsquare said in a release that it was porting Adobe's Flash Lite 3.17 technology onto "Dell netbooks running Google's Android platform." This would seem to indicate Dell is making Android netbooks, which would be a major development on the Android front.

A Dell spokesman, John Pope, said that the company is "constantly assesses new technologies."

"It's part of managing our product development process and for consideration in future products," he said. "On the Bsquare release, it was issued in error and Dell has made no announcements on plans to issue an Android-based netbook."   

For more:
- see this Android release [2]
- see this aritcle on WiMAX [3]
- see this post [4]

Related Articles:
Clearwire will launch at least eight markets in 2009 [1]
Smsung releases WiMAX MID, Instinct successor [5]
Nokia ends production of N810 WiMAX tablet [6]
Report: Dell launching smartphone in China
Analyst: Dell [7] smartphone was DOA
Report: Dell [8] may launch smartphone next month