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Some of the world's largest IT and mobile companies have teamed up to create a new category of always-connected 'Mobile Broadband' devices, delivering an alternative to WiFi. According to reports, in the first phase of this initiative lead by GSM Association (GSMA), mobile operators, PC manufacturers and chipset providers will collaborate to pre-install Mobile Broadband into a range of notebook PCs that will be ready to switch on and surf straight out of the box in 91 countries.

"While there will always be a place for WiFi connectivity, the great merit of Mobile Broadband might be that it liberates the user from the spatial tyranny of the so-called 'hotspot.' A Mobile Broadband solution, informed by close collaboration between PC makers, chipset vendors and mobile operators, should focus on appropriate optimization of the services and superior performance on the device, and consequently, a better user experience," says Shiv K. Bakhshi, Ph.D., IDC director of mobility research.

Launch participants include 3 Group, Asus, Dell, ECS, Ericsson, Gemalto, Lenovo, Microsoft, Orange, Qualcomm, Telefónica Europe, Telecom Italia, TeliaSonera, T-Mobile, Toshiba and Vodafone.

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See related topics: Access Providers, Broadband, Mobile, Wireless