Ericsson expands modules into netbooks and Intel Pine Trail
Published: 4 June, 2009
READ MORE: Ericsson | Intel | Netbook
USB dongles have been hugely successful for connecting notebooks to the 3G networks, but embedded 3G or 4G wireless will be the key trend for driving mobile broadband in 2010, and could drive a welcome round of notebook upgrades. The netbook category is even more reliant on embedding the wireless connections and Ericsson has recognized the opportunity to expand its successful laptop modules business into the new format.
The Swedish company announced its latest mobile broadband modules a day after Motorola dipped its first toes in the modules market, looking to extend the reach of its own technologies as wireless becomes embedded in a vast range of devices, right down to the machine-to-machine level. Ericsson may be expected to be exploring those trends in future too, but for now it is focusing on netbooks with the new F3307 module for HSPA, and will be able to leverage its strengthening partnership with Intel.
One of the secrets to the module market is pre-certifying the product with large networks, so that PC makers can incorporate 3G rapidly and cheaply - a lesson Qualcomm learned when it announced its own entry to the game, Gobi. The F3307 is also pre-certified for many networks - with operators in more than 75 countries so far. Mats Norin, VP of Ericsson Mobile Broadband Modules, said in a statement: "Netbooks are redefining the way consumers think about the internet and mobile broadband. By coupling our cost-effective mobile broadband solution with the affordability of netbooks, Ericsson is bringing connectivity to the masses."
Given the power of Intel in the PC and netbook ecosystem, Ericsson's partnership with the chip giant is increasingly important. The companies are working to validate the F3307 with Intel's next generation netbook platform, Pine Trail-M, with Windows 7. In Intel's ideal world, WiMAX would be the default mobile broadband link in notebooks and netbooks, but it knows it has to play in HSPA too. After the breakdown of a previous embedded 3G partnership with Nokia, last fall it formed a pact with Ericsson, initially to provide HSPA elements for Intel's Atom Moorestown processor family for mobile internet devices and netbooks, working with Windows and Intel's Moblin Linux.
At the time, Ericsson spoke of the need to embed HSPA in all kinds of mobile devices from MIDs to consumer electronics gadgets such as GPS navigators, gaming consoles and devices optimized for social networking. Johan Wibergh, head of Business Unit Networks, said that the company saw "great potential in embedding mobile broadband in MIDs, creating new markets in the industry .... Ericsson continues to create one internet and one experience for the consumer, regardless of location or device, fixed or wireless."
Ericsson estimates that more than 300m netbooks will be sold between 2009 and 2014 with a majority having mobile broadband capabilities - and over 30% of these will be sold via operators.
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