| 2nd August 2006 - Vodafone UK today announced that it will
be launching the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem, a new version
of its 3G broadband data card designed especially for users
of the latest generation of laptops, desktops and Apple MacBooks,
later this year. The device, which will be available in the
autumn, will allow customers to access Vodafone’s high
speed 3G broadband service by simply plugging it into the USB
slot on their computer.
Vodafone, which in June 2006 was the first network to launch
high speed 3G broadband services in the UK, has launched the
new device in response to the demand for 3G broadband from
users of the latest generation of laptops. This is due to
the fact that many newer laptops only have smaller ExpressCard
rather than traditional PC card slots. The new Vodafone Mobile
Connect USB Modem ensures that Vodafone customers are able
to access 3G broadband services regardless of their choice
of computer.
Customers using the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem will
be able to benefit from download speeds of around 1.4Mbps
and upload speeds of up to 384 Kbps, across Vodafone’s
growing 3G broadband footprint. Currently this is available
in Greater London (within the M25), the West Midlands, Glasgow,
Liverpool, Sheffield, Greater Manchester, Bristol and Tyneside,
with plans to reach 75% of the UK population by summer 2007.
The service is also available in a number of other countries
worldwide (Austria, Australia, France, Germany, Portugal,
Spain and Hong Kong). When outside of 3G broadband coverage,
customers will automatically be able to access the web using
Vodafone’s existing 3G and GPRS services.
John Lillistone, head of enterprise data services, Vodafone
UK, commented: "The Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem
is designed so that anyone, regardless of their choice of
computer, can access high speed data while on the move. This
will be of particular appeal to the large number of our small
business customers that work in the creative industries, who
have tended to prefer Apple computers or the latest design
of laptops. It has been designed entirely around the needs
of the customer, offering a simple 'plug and play' set-up
process - even the software installs itself from the modem,
so that absolutely no knowledge of technology is required
to get online in moments."
Dale Vile, research director at Freeform Dynamics Ltd, adds:
"3G data card users and those involved in HSDPA trials
highlight the liberating nature of the 'open the lid and connect'
experience. All moves to make this available to a broader
audience are welcome, and it is nice to see that the Mac community
has not been forgotten as part of this. The 'plug and play'
convenience factor of self-installing USB modems is in keeping
with the hassle-free nature of cellular connectivity, which
will also appeal to many Windows users".
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