| Embedded 3G, which has the 3G module embedded in | | | | standards will emerge that the hardware can't support |
| a PC, is a trend that started a few years ago and has | | | | and then you will be back to an external solution in |
| been evolving. A report from the research firm, Senza | | | | order to support that laptop in the field. |
| Fili Consulting, says that by 2014, vertical market | | | | In addition, while the hardware should be more reliable, |
| applications will use more than 154 million connections | | | | the 3G module is in the hardware and will be a more |
| on 3G,WiMAX or LTE networks, generating more than | | | | expensive to fix. It might make more sense to ship out |
| $43 billion in service revenues, and that vertical | | | | an external 3G component, rather than try to send in |
| services will reach 24 percent of WiMAX | | | | the laptop from the field. |
| subscriptions and 14 percent of LTE subscriptions. | | | | A third disadvantage, which only happens on a |
| A few years ago, enterprises were wise to not take | | | | case-by-case basis (cover this with your vendor), is |
| advantage of the technology because it was evolving | | | | whether you will be able to change service providers |
| so rapidly, both in CDMA and GSM markets. But | | | | during the life of the laptop. There have been cases |
| recently, things have stabilized this should continue for | | | | where the laptop provider was locked to a cellular |
| a few years until WiMAX and LTE, 4G technologies, | | | | provider NOT for the term of the contract, but for the |
| come forward. Now, the innovation of the Gobi chip | | | | life of the laptop (much longer). You need to be careful |
| set from Qualcomm, which supports both CDMA and | | | | that you can switch providers, if you choose to, on that |
| GSM standards in a single chip, makes it possible for | | | | 3G embedded adaptor when your contract is up with |
| you standardize. Gobi allows users to switch | | | | that service provider. |
| seamlessly between 3G networks around the world, | | | | Overall, this is a positive trend for the market. What |
| including GSM, EDGE, HSPA, and EV-DO. | | | | seems to be happening in the long term, because the |
| Advantages: | | | | cost of electronics is going down, is a model where |
| Companies were first buying PC cards and then USB | | | | you can roll out 3G to all of your users, but only pay |
| sticks that supported 3G. When a company moves to | | | | for it based on usage. We should see no more |
| Embedded 3G, the biggest advantage is that the cost | | | | two-year-commits with flat-rate fees per month |
| of equipment is lower, whether built into the laptop or | | | | whether the end user engages in connectivity or not. |
| not. The electronics to provide embedded 3G is less | | | | The 3G hardware comes with the laptop with a small |
| than an external solution, which should show up as a | | | | upfront price, and then your users only pay as they go. |
| lower price overall. | | | | This will allow you to more broadly roll out 3G without |
| Also the reliability should be greater as there aren't | | | | having to worry about a huge up-front cost every |
| pieces sticking out which can be broken off or lost or | | | | month for subscriptions. |
| stolen. So you should save money over using USB | | | | 3G is a great component of an overall enterprise |
| adapters. | | | | mobility solution, along with the Wi-Fi that you find at |
| Disadvantages: | | | | home, in the office and on-the-go. Now you have |
| Although the technology is stabilized, it will change. As | | | | options to put together a solution that supports all of |
| much as vendors can predict whether hardware and | | | | these technologies in a single, easy-to-use, unified |
| firmware will be forward compatible with future | | | | package. |
| standards, they can't guarantee it. It's possible new | | | | |