X220 Integrated Mobile Broadband compatibility

[zern]

Hi everyone.

1. How compatible is the Integrated Mobile Broadband option with different service providers worldwide? When I travel for work, I sometimes get a USB mobile broadband modem/dongle to access the net with. If I had the Integrated Mobile Broadband option in my thinkpad, does that mean I can pull the SIM out of the USB modem, stick it in the thinkpad's SIM slot, and get on line that way?

2. Given the long battery life of the X220, I may end up doing this when in Australia anyway. Has any one done this in Oz with a Telstra/Optus/etc mobile broadband SIM? What about a the SIM from a 4G wireless broadband provide like http://www.vividwireless.com.au/ - will that SIM just work inside the thinkpad?

3. Just specifying the Integrated Mobile Broadband option is not enough right? That only puts in the antenna(s)? I have to add the Integrated Mobile Broadband (Ericsson F5521gw) with 21Mbps D/L option too to be truly 'ready'?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[bill bolton]

does that mean I can pull the SIM out of the USB modem, stick it in the thinkpad's SIM slot, and get on line that way?

The best answer anyone can give you to that is a definite maybe.

While 3G services are at least partially standardised, there is still plenty of wiggle room in terms of whether any arbitrary device will able to connect to any arbitrary 3G servive provider.

Has any one done this in Oz with a Telstra/Optus/etc mobile broadband SIM?

I have used Telstra Mobile Broadband, Optus, and Telecom NZ SIMs successfully, and I have no reason to suspect that 3/Vodafone would not work.

What about a the SIM from a 4G wireless broadband provide like http://www.vividwireless.com.au/ - will that SIM just work inside the thinkpad?

Vivid isn't really 4G........ it is WiMax based, so it wont work with 3G HSDPA (etc) based cards.

Just specifying the Integrated Mobile Broadband option is not enough right?

If you are configuring an X220 on the Lenovo Australia site, and there is a WWAN offer for the X220 configuration you are working with it will show.....

• o Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable
  
  o Integrated Mobile Broadband (Ericsson F5521gw) with 21Mbps D/L

..... with the first choice selected by default. You need to select the second choice to get a working 3G capability in your configured X220.

Cheers,

Bill .

[zern]

Thanks Bill. Much appreciated.

I think I will just go the ready/upgradeable part and not bother getting the actual modem part just yet.