Dell unveils 3G-enabled laptops

Dell unveils 3G-enabled laptops


Dell's new widesceen laptops with dual-core Intel chips will support Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G

Dell has announced new corporate laptops and mobile workstations with integrated 3G connectivity, enabling staff to access company email and other resources wherever they roam.

The new Latitude laptops and Precision workstations are available from early April with built-in Bluetooth and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi capability. From May, Dell will also ship some models with integrated 3G "wireless broadband". Firms will need a data subscription to Vodafone's network to use this capability.

"We're sensing that corporate IT managers are now trying to offer workers a more flexible lifestyle, with the ability to access applications and data from anywhere," said UK Latitude brand manager Bob Bennett. He said 3G support was being delayed until May so that Dell could include the faster HSDPA technology.

The Latitude D620 and D820 are based on Intel's dual-core mobile platform and feature widescreen displays. The D620 has a 14.1in screen while the D820 has a 15.4in screen. Both display WXGA (1366x768) resolution and have 512MB memory. A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is standard, and biometric fingerprint sensors can be included for build-to-order customers.

Both models have no fewer than five built-in antennas to support Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G simultaneously, collectively labelled Hyperconnect by Dell. The 3G support is provided by a MiniCard PCI Express adapter, with the network identity SIM fitting into the laptop's battery compartment.

The new Precision M65 and M90 workstations are also widescreen models, but with high-performance graphics support. The M65 is based on the same chassis as the D820, but adds an Nvidia Quadro FX 350M adapter with 256MB dedicated video memory, while the M90 has a 17in widescreen display and features the Quadro FX2500M with 512MB of graphics memory.

These new dual-core models enable users to run full workstation applications from any location, according to Dell's European head of client products, James Griffiths. With up to 4GB of memory, users can also take full computer-aided design (CAD) models on the road, instead of a subset, he added.

The Latitude D620 and D820 prices start at £714 and £804, respectively. Pricing for the Precision workstations has yet to be announced.

Update: Dell has now announced the Precision M65 will cost £1,168 and the Precision M90 £1,497.