Apple’s Netbook, AT&T’s 3G Upgrades

Commercial Times/Digitimes is reporting that Foxconn Electronics (as it’s known in the US, Hon Hai Precision Industry as it’s known elsewhere) could be the potential supplier for an Apple Mac OS X-based netbook.

Foxconn and Apple have a relationship that goes back several years, and they’ve manufactured either partially, or in whole, devices for Apple that include iPhones, MacBook Airs, Mac minis, along with some iPods, so it makes sense that they are in the running for this.

Something that maybe slightly related - on the heels of AT&T offering netbooks with mobile data plans, Telephony Online is reporting that AT&T is working on upgrading its existing 3G networks up to a 7.2Mb/s speed. The improvements that could potentially double current speeds/capacity are software-based, designed to boost its 3G network before its eventual move over to a 4G network.

Telephony Online claims that it’s centered around the downlink capacity. The article mentions that most laptop cards (and presumably USB adapters), as well as smartphones and iPhones that AT&T currently offers, can handle the increased capacity.

Should AT&T’s plans to offer netbooks with mobile data plans prove successful, along with iPhone OS 3.0 coming out in the not-too-distant future, the increased capacity should be put to the test. Already Skype has been rolled out to the iPhone (although WiFi access is needed for VOIP), and an iPhone-based Hulu.com client is in the works as well.

Read:
- DigiTimes
- Telephony Online
via AppleInsider

Site Updates, etc. - April 13, 2009

If you’re wondering why there haven’t been any updates in the past week, I’ve been doing a lot of work on the back-end of the site, as well as a new design. It’s something that should have been done earlier this year, and it’s now almost finished. The layout is going to be cleaned up, along with a major overhaul of how data about the various laptops is presented.

Most of that should be rolled out later this week, and there shouldn’t be any downtime. If you notice anything weird, just refresh the page, as some older data maybe cached.

I also took the chance to switch ISPs at my house from Time Warner Cable to another broadband provider. I had been considering it for a while, and when Time Warner Cable announced their ridiculous caps/tiers, that was the final straw. The caps/tiers are so low they could only be targeting the growing market for watching video over the internet (Hulu.com, Netflix, iTunes Music Store, etc.). Even though they backed off in my area (Central Texas) as far as testing these tiers/caps (and are possibly raising them), they’ve made it clear they are going to be pushing them out at some point in the future. They even publicly admitted that they felt that if they could push them out in Austin, Texas, they could push them out anywhere. I did have a chance to attend an Austin Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission meeting where several citizens spoke out against the tiers/caps. I’ll be writing a lot more about this later this week - I’m still shocked at how ridiculously low Time Warner Cable set the average tiers/caps. In the meantime, check out StopTheCap.com - they are doing a great job of keeping up on the status of Time Warner Cable’s moves and how this is all playing out.

AT&T to Offer Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and 12, and LG Xenia with Mobile Data Plans

Looks like the reports from the middle of February concerning AT&T offering multiple netbooks/sub-notebooks, or “mini laptops” as the AT&T press release calls them, are indeed true.

AT&T will be offering the Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, and LG Xenia (aka X110) in prices ranging from $49.99 USD to $249.99 when purchasing an appropriate mobile broadband package (along with the contract). If you want something more powerful, such as the 12-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X200, you are looking at $750 to $850 depending on the plan.

AT&T has put together what it’s calling an “Internet at Home and On the Go” plan that covers several situations (mixing mobile data and DSL), and included with that is access to AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots. The standard 5GB a month for $60 plan is still available for those who don’t need DSL.

In the reports from February, the HP Mini 1000 was mentioned in that mix of devices, but it’s been left out for now.

There is a catch to all of this (besides the standard contract) - for now, it’s only being offered in select stores in the Atlanta and Philadelphia areas, but it looks like it will be nationwide later this year.

Read:
- Press Release (AT&T)
via GigaOm

Verizon to Offer HP Mini 1000 with Mobile Broadband

Boy Genius Report has information and a screen capture purporting to show that Verizon will be offering the HP Mini 1000 netbook with mobile broadband/data plans.

Earlier this week, Verizon confirmed that they would be selling a netbook through corporate Verizon stores sometime in the second quarter (starting possibly in April).

If the information is correct, this would follow potential plans by AT&T’s to offer the HP Mini 1000 and other netbooks at subsidized prices with data plans. AT&T already offers a plan with the 8.9″ Acer Aspire One through Radio Shack.

Specifications:
- HP Mini 1151NR aka NM123UA#ABA
- Intel Atom 1.6GHz N270
- 1GB RAM
- 4200rpm 80GB HDD (probably 1.8″)
- 10.1″ 1024×576 display
- 802.11b/g Wireless
- Bluetooth
- 3-cell Lithium-Ion Polymer Battery

Verizon already has a working relationship with HP/Compaq - HP ultraportables/laptops such as the Pavilion TouchSmart TX2/TX2Z have optional Verizon wireless mobile broadband/data plans.

Read:
- Boy Genius Report
via CrunchGear
Also: Reuters

Asus Shows Off Windows 7 on Eee PC T91, 1003HA, Announces 1000HG

At this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Asustek is showing off Microsoft’s Windows 7 on the highly-anticipated 8.9″ touchscreen Eee PC T91. The Eee PC T91 Touch is a convertible - it converts between a Tablet PC and a conventional laptop/notebook form factor. They were also using Windows 7 to show off the mobile broadband functionality available with the T91, as well as the upcoming Eee PC 1003HA.

Both the 1003HA and T91 are using a Huawei EM770 WWAN module for mobile broadband connectivity. The reasoning for Windows 7 - it shows off Windows 7’s networking/mobile broadband capabilities and the Huawei EM770 module was designed from the ground up for Windows 7. According to the press release, the 1003HA will only be offered through mobile providers.

In addition, they announced the Eee PC 1000HG, which will have 802.16e and WAVE2 wireless networking as well as 802.11a/b/g/n.

Read: SlashGear

Netbooks Available in AT&T Stores Soon?

Engadget has news that a market research firm has been conducting an online survey indicated that AT&T is considering carrying netbooks/ultraportables in AT&T stores.

This is on the heels of a Fortune Magazine interview with the AT&T executive responsible for the AT&T side of the iPhone agreement with Apple, where he mentioned that netbooks were his next target, with plans to use them to sell AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband plans.

On top of all of this, LAPTOP Magazine has an interview with Glenn Lurie, the AT&T executive mentioned above, where he confirms that AT&T plans on adding netbooks to their stores, with this response to LAPTOP Magazine’s questions:

LAPTOP Magazine: Will people be able to buy a netbook in an AT&T store at some point?

AT&T/Glenn Lurie: Yes, at some point we will carry them and many types of devices in our stores. I see us including netbooks, MIDs, e-books, portable navigation, and all types of connected devices. I also see these devices being in the traditional big-box retailers and their Web sites.

Quoting the AT&T survey material (from Engadget):

Introducing….The Netbook at AT&T

Netbooks represent a new category of ultra-mobile laptops that are small-sized and lightweight. They are optimized for wireless Internet access and browsing needs.

It then mentions some of the benefits (”compact and lightweight, easy to carry around”) and common specifications (screen size, weight, battery life) as well as mentioning no internal optical drives.

Then we have this:
Read more

Fortune Magazine: Netbooks and Mobile Broadband

Back in December, AT&T and Radio Shack ran a promotion, offering the Acer Aspire One for $99 with a 3G AT&T DataConnect plan. We’ve seen other netbooks being priced incredibly low (or free) with mobile broadband contracts - it was mentioned in a recent review of the LG X110 in the UK.

Fortune Magazine has an article out talking about AT&T’s efforts to push 3G and netbook combination plans in the U.S. AT&T is using the same person who worked out the AT&T/Apple iPhone agreement to spearhead this new move by AT&T to get customers in the U.S. to buy netbooks (or other small notebooks) with 3G mobile broadband plans:

Glenn Lurie knows Silicon Valley better than most telecom industry types. As AT&T’s point man on the iPhone, he was the guy who camped out in Cupertino and hashed out the blockbuster iPhone launch with Apple. The next big game in his sights? The netbook.

That’s right, the netbook, that shrunken, low-priced laptop that lately has been a rare bright spot in the moribund PC industry. To hear Lurie tell it, AT&T’s next hit phone might not be a phone at all, but a netbook with built-in Internet access that works anywhere you can get a cell signal.

Besides the Acer Aspire One, they’ve recently worked out a deal to have a 3G bundle with the 8.9″ Dell Inspiron Mini 9 (although you pay a higher price upfront, with a rebate to follow). From the article and the comments of Lurie, AT&T would probably like to see a 3G plan bundled with the 13.3″ Apple MacBook as well (or even better, an Apple netbook).

They mention it’s still a new market, and nobody is sure just how well it will ultimately be received in the US. Such bundles are popular in other parts of the world (notably Asia and Europe), but mobile/cell phone pricing in the US is quite a bit different.

Read: Fortune Magazine/CNNMoney.com

Dell Announces Inspiron Mini 10, Mentions Adamo

At a press event today, Dell unveiled the Inspiron Mini 10, a slightly larger version of the Inspirin Mini 9. It’s got a 10″ display with a 16:9 aspect ration, and Dell claims it can play 720P HD video - whether this means the display is 1280×720 (or 1366x???) is unknown. Update: I would err on the side of caution and say it will probably do 1280×720.

The Inspiron Mini 10 has some interesting features, in addition to the 16:9 display:
- “Edge-to-Edge” Keyboard
- Built-in TV Tuner
- Mobile Broadband (maybe optional)
- Built-in GPS
- Multi-touch and gesture touchpad (gestures for home screen, scrolls, favorites)

Also included in the presentation, the Dell 3G Inspiron Mini 9, which represents a partnership between Dell and AT&T to include 3G mobile broadband connectivity in the Inspirin Mini 9.

The Dell presentation put an emphasis on how important they believe touch-enabled devices (either touchpads or touchscreens) will become, even before Windows 7 is in wide release, and that Windows 7 will eventually help with that.

As far as the Dell Adamo, Dell wouldn’t say much at this time. Engadget mentions that it’s really thin and light, and that it will be the new luxury franchise/flagship in the Dell laptop lineup.

Read: Engadget

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