Telecom to Demonstrate Mobile Broadband-Enabled Notebook at Convergence Oceania

Telecom will demonstrate 'proof-of-concept' Mobile Broadband-enabled notebooks at Convergence Oceania 06 next week, in advance of their commercial launch later this year.

These are notebooks embedded with Telecom's CDMA EV-DO Mobile Broadband cards, allowing users to do away with data cards and connect as soon as they turn their notebooks on.

Telecom Mobile's Head of Product and Service Development, Shane Ohlin, says the Mobile Broadband-enabled notebook market represents an enormous opportunity, and Telecom would be competing aggressively.

"It's an exciting space to be in, as it represents the convergence of two trends currently changing the face of technology - soaring notebook sales and ubiquitous Mobile Broadband.

"We're currently in talks with a number of major notebook manufacturers, and we expect to see Telecom Mobile Broadband-enabled notebooks in the New Zealand market in the near future."

Mr Ohlin likened Mobile Broadband in notebooks to the rise in popularity of WiFi.

"WiFi used to be an added extra that you had to bolt on to your notebook - these days it tends to come as a standard feature," he says.

"Mobile Broadband-enabled notebooks are very similar, in that they're a quiet technology step that will make a profound difference."

Mr Ohlin says the significant coverage advantage CDMA/EV-DO enjoys in New Zealand over UMTS will make Mobile Broadband-enabled notebooks a compelling proposition, as the notebook will be able to connect at broadband speed across around 70% of New Zealand.

"The immediacy of the connection and the simplicity of use mean these devices are sure to have an impact on the way people use the Internet."

For more information, or to attend the demonstration at Convergence Oceania 06, contact:

Annie Stockman

PR Adviser - Telecom Mobile

(09) 362 8150

(027) 291 1632

annie.stockman@telecom.co.nz