HP IN TALKS WITH TELCOS FOR 3G LAPTOP

Harsimran Singh,

New Delhi The Economic Times (Delhi edition)

As if to ensure that people don’t stop buying laptops, you will soon have notebooks that will incorporate a mobile phone! Indeed, laptops makers are getting their act together to compete with the all-powerful and ubiquitous mobile phone. Very soon, to make a phone call you may not have to reach out to a mobile phone. Your laptop may just do the same once 3G is launched.
Hewlett-Packard is planning to talk to Indian mobile operators for a tie-up to offer 3G laptops once the 3G mobile services are launched here. “The 3G laptop has worked well in foreign markets and we are keen to introduce it in India too,” Kevin Frost, vice-president and general manager, consumer notebooks business unit, personal systems group, said.
HP already has tie-ups with various service providers in different countries. For instance, in the US it’s AT&T, Sprint & Verizon, in Australia HP has tied up with Vodafone, in UK its Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile. The same may be replicated in India wherein a laptop cost may be subsidised by the operator if a subscriber takes the 3G service from him. “Globally, we are seeing laptops get smaller and compete increasingly with mobile and PDA phones. On the other hand, mobile phone makers are trying to outdo laptops by introducing more computer-like features. Mobile phone makers also want to have the sole control over offering mobile service to consumers,” he added.
However, in countries where 3Genabled laptops are available, it’s the broadband application which is marketed most, as mobile phone makers don’t want to lose control over mobile services to PC vendors.
HP said prices of its 3G-enabled laptops will depend on the changes on conformation to the standards of the operators once 3G is available in India. HP offers two types of broadband wireless modules–1xEV-DO and HSDPA. 1xEV-DO modules are currently offered only in the US.
With 3G broadband wireless notebooks, one can check e-mail or connect to the Internet from virtually anywhere in the country where the mobile operator offers coverage. Currently in India, users can access wireless Internet only through WiFi zones or WiFi cards. With 3G laptops, a user won’t need to rely on mobile phone to have seamless and hi-speed web connectivity.