The next generation
At CTIA 2010, wireless chip giant Qualcomm unveiled a new roadmap for Gobi - the name it gives to its technologies designed to provide embedded wireless connectivity to mobile computing devices. Among the suite of wireless technologies added is LTE, considered by most to be the default technology for 4G wireless.
Having said that, Intel and partners aren't about to just roll-over and let that happen. Another announcement at the show was the HTC EVO, which will offer 4G connectivity via WiMAX to the US Sprint network.
"Our Gobi technology is bringing the transparent, reliable and widely available connectivity of 3G to notebooks, netbooks, e-readers, routers and other market segments that are benefiting from access to mobile broadband," said Barry Matsumori, VPof product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. "With this newly expanded roadmap, Gobi- enabled devices can bring greater value to consumers and enterprises than ever before."
"With Qualcomm's commitment to expand the Gobi program to support the latest 3G and coming 4G networks, Dell mobile devices with built-in Gobi wireless technology will deliver the best anywhere, anytime connectivity solution for digital nomads around the world," said John Thode, Dell's VP of small screen devices.
Here's a list of the Qualcomm chipsets that are available with the Gobi API, the wireless technology they support, and the potential data rates they offer:
- MDM6200: supports HSPA+ data rates of up to 14.4 Mbps
- MDM6600: supports HSPA+ data rates of up to 14.4 Mbps and CDMA2000® 1xEV-DO Rev. A/Rev. B
- MDM8200A: supports HSPA+ data rates of up to 28 Mbps
- MDM8220: supports dual-carrier HSPA+ for data rates of up to 42 Mbps
- MDM9200: supports LTE data rates of up to 100 Mbps with full backward compatibility to dual carrier HSPA+
- MDM9600: supports LTE data rates of up to 100 Mbps with full backward compatibility to dual carrier HSPA+ and EV-DO Rev. A/Rev. B
