Question about WWAN feature in T61

[hta07]

Hello. A question regarding the WWAN feature in the Thinkpad
T61, is the hardware locked to AT&T/Cingular. If i move to Europe can i use the local provider SIM, or is it locked. I.e I do not want to Roam on a AT&T Sim.

[GomJabbar]

I am about 99.9% certain that it is locked. Your best bet would be to buy yourself an unlocked PC card from ebay.

The Sierra Wireless AirCard 860 fits flush in the PC Card slot - you just need to use an antenna with it (it comes with a small flexible plug-in antenna). The Sierra Wireless AirCard 875 sticks out a bit, but includes a built-in antenna. Their is the Sierra Wireless 875U AirCard with a built-in antenna that plugs into a USB slot. Additionally there are the Sierra Wireless AirCard 880E and the AirCard 881E ExpressCards with built-in antennas. There are other manufacturers of HSDPA cards as well, such as Novatel (Nexaira) and Option (I am just more familiar with the Sierra Wireless lineup).

[hta07]

Thanks for the highly informative response Gomjabber,

[hta07]

What about Sony's PC300 Mobile Broadband HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE. If i am not mistaken it's coming out later this year, and from the pictures I’ve seen the built it antenna is the only part exposed (approximately 1 cm) from the slot.

[GomJabbar]

I am unfamiliar with that Sony offering. I did have, and still have a Sony Ericsson GC-83 EDGE PC Card. It is a fine card, but a bit slow now that 3G is out.