ThinkPads to support Cingular 3G technology

[BigWarpGuy]

"Lenovo strikes a deal with Cingular Wireless to embed the carrier's 3G technology into laptops. "
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6017968.html

[GomJabbar]

Yeah, I saw that Lenovo was incorporating 3G into some of their notebooks starting in March. As a Cingular customer, I am looking forward to using this 3G service soon. I plan to get a Sierra Wireless 860 Aircard in 2 or 3 weeks.

From your link I finally found out what the acronyms UTMS and HSDPA stood for, even though I've been reading about it for several months.

For some users, I think having the cellular wireless built in would be great. But for myself, I don't think it's the best solution. I use my cellular wireless primarily inside of a steel-hulled boat. I have an external antenna that I place in the port hole (round window) so that I can get an adequate signal. If the built-in cellular wireless had no provision to attach an external antenna, I would not want it.

[bill bolton]

For some users, I think having the cellular wireless built in would be great. But for myself, I don't think it's the best solution.

Another problem is that there are presently nothing much even approaching a global standard implementation for wireless WAN. There are differing technologies in various parts of the world, so building any particular technology "in" to a laptop is somewhat limiting.

Maybe if WiMax, or UTMS, or WCDMA (or whatever) does become a very widely used standard on a global basis and there is guaranteed device portability it will make sense, but that's not going to happen for few years (minimum) yet as far as I can see!

Right now global device potablility in the Wireless WAN market is very restricted by the carriers, even for devices on the same technical standards. 802.11b/g are about the only ones that are truly portable and they are not very effective at Wireless WAN level unless you find an area that is "meshed".

Cheers,

Bill

[ibmuser]

The press release from Cingular:

http://cingular.mediaroom.com/index.php ... &item=1409

[krma-thkpds]

Another problem is that there are presently nothing much even approaching a global standard implementation for wireless WAN. There are differing technologies in various parts of the world, so building any particular technology "in" to a laptop is somewhat limiting.

Maybe if WiMax, or UTMS, or WCDMA (or whatever) does become a very widely used standard on a global basis and there is guaranteed device portability it will make sense, but that's not going to happen for few years (minimum) yet as far as I can see!

Most of Europe uses these networks; GPRS, EDGE (which is just an upgrade to GPRS and does not count into 3G networks) and UMTS. UMTS is something similar to American WCDMA, I think.

[r1ych]

Is UMTS the standard that the majority of "3G" providers are offering in the UK? ie, it's possible to use this Cingular card and use it on UK GSM Networks with full 3G speeds?

[krma-thkpds]

I don't know how this work in USA, but in Europe your network provider must have roaming contract with provider in other countries. Thus you can have full 3G speeds but prices are considerably higher.

In my opinion Verizon will have to sign some contracts with European providers in order for you guys to use 3G in Europe. The problem is that not all countries have 3G neworks estabilished. I am form Slovenia (foremer Yugoslavia) and here we have 3 network providers and only one of them is offering 3G UMTS the other two use advanced GPRS i.e. EDGE which is not 3G but just un upgrade form 2G.

[jdhurst]

I have a Sony Ericsson GSM/GPRS card and it sure did not work when travelling to Europe this past May. My phone (older, to be sure) did not work either. A global standard for these things would be nice, but until then, I would not want something I can't use built into the ThinkPad.
... JD Hurst

[krma-thkpds]

have a Sony Ericsson GSM/GPRS...

You see, you can't use 3G networks with GSM/GPRS card. You will need 3G UMTS card to use UMTS networks. Not many people even here in Europe have UMTS phones or cards. I use Nokia 6630 UMTS phone as bluetooth modem and where I get 3G signal the download speeds are up to 40KBps. And I think Mobitel,http://www.mobitel.si, my network provider, is one most advanced in Europe. It estabilished 3G network as second in Europe.

[jdhurst]

I knew that GSM can't be used on 3G; I was just ranting about the general worldwide lack of interoperability
... JD Hurst

[bill bolton]

My phone (older, to be sure) did not work either.

GSM was a late comer to the US and the 850Mhz and 1900 Mhz bands used in North America for GSM are not in very common use for GSM in most of the rest of the world.

By far the most common GSM band globally is 900Mhz, with many countries using 900Mhz, now also also offering GSM on 1800Mhz.

All the GSM phones I've ever bought here in Oz (900Mhz band) have worked all across Asia and Europe without any drama.

The GSM phone standards/interoperability position is generally very good, provided you are on the right band. Wireless WAN technology has a very long way to go to reach the global interoperability capbility of GSM phones!

My 1xEV-DO wireless WAN card also works in New Zealand, but nowhere else in the world. On the other hand my 802.11b/g wireless LAN card work has worked everywhere I've been the world!

Cheers,

Bill

[GomJabbar]

AFAIK, even if you have a phone or device that incorporates the bands used in other countries, that phone or device needs to be unlocked to be able to put in a local SIM card (such as prepaid) in that you could get in country (and get better rates). You could still use your current provider in another country if they support that, but one should generally expect high per-minute rates.

I've read that many providers will let you unlock your phone (and provide the code) if you convince them that you are going out of country.

[bill bolton]

AFAIK, even if you have a phone or device that incorporates the bands used in other countries, that phone or device needs to be unlocked to be able to put in a local SIM card (such as prepaid) in that you could get in country (and get better rates).

Perhaps in the US, but in most of the world GSM phones are not locked per se. Domestically I can change carriers by just changing SIM cards.

The carrier I use (Telstra) has global roaming agreenments with a wide range of Telcos in other countries. When I am in a country where a global roaming agreement is in place I can use any of the carriers in that country covered by the roaming agreement..... they come up as network choices for me on my GSM phone. Its all very transparent from a user point of view.

Cheers,

Bill

[jdhurst]

My provider has global agreements, and for a few minutes (say under 20 in a vacation), global roaming is no more expensive than an in-country SIM. The issue is not the unlocking or the SIM in my mind. The issue is that my provider made GSM sound like an interoperable world wide standard where it simply is not. You need (as already noted) GSM plus the right frequency. North Americans are noticeably recalcitrant in being agreeable to European standards. Pain in the butt if you ask me.
... JD Hurst

[GomJabbar]

Perhaps in the US, but in most of the world GSM phones are not locked per se. Domestically I can change carriers by just changing SIM cards.

In the good ole U.S. of A., all the major carriers lock the phone so that a another carrier's SIM will not work. Note that it is the phone they lock, not the SIM. The reason of course is that they don't want you to switch carriers (they do subsidize part of the cost of the phone when you sign up for service with a contract). Now they are all promoting 2-year contracts. It stinks.

I have read that the carriers will generally give you the unlock code if you can convince them that you are leaving the country with your phone. I can't say for certain how true this is. It probably depends upon who you get in customer service. There are people on e-bay and elsewhere that will unlock a phone for a fee.