ASUS Eee PC adds HSPA-based 3G access

ASUS on Wednesday said it will add HSPA wireless data network access to its Eee PC range of portable notebook PCs, starting with the 8.9-inch Eee PC 901. The newly added feature will enable users to access the Internet from anywhere a supporting wireless data network is available, allowing them to reach download speeds as high as 7.2Mbps and upload speeds of 2Mbps.

The Eee PC 901 with HSPA will come exclusively with a 16GB solid-state drive, up from the current Eee PC’s 12GB SSD. The recently introduced 20GB of online storage is likewise included with the notebook. It will include an 802.11b/g/n wireless data network module and Bluetooth connectivity, and ship with Windows XP only. The new Eee PC’s claimed 7.5-hour battery life with a six-cell pack is also likely to be reduced with HSPA working.

The HSPA-capable Eee PC 901, available in white or black, will launch in October with prices to be set later.