HP, Qualcomm Expand Internet Access

HP and Qualcomm are working together to incorporate Qualcomm’s "Gobi" global mobile Internet technology in some of HP's business notebooks to enable high-speed connectivity on both CDMA2000 EV-DO and UMTS HSPA networks, with a single wireless solution. At the Mobile World Congress, the companies said Gobi technology in notebooks will help increase connectivity and expand international roaming capabilities. "With the integration of Gobi technology into HP notebooks, the two companies bring unparalleled connectivity to notebook users, enabling them to access the Internet without having to search for a Wi-Fi hotspot," Mike Concannon, vice president of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, said in a statement. Gobi technology will be offered in HP's ultra-portable, balanced mobility, and performance laptop categories. The embedded Gobi solution includes Qualcomm’s MDM1000 chipset, associated software, and API, as well as a reference design for a software-defined configurable data module supporting both EVDO Rev. A and HSPA with full backward compatibility. Vodafone has already signed on to deliver broadband connectivity to Gobi-enabled computers.