Sony VAIO notebooks get Qualcomm Gobi tech
updated 03:50 pm EST, Mon February 16, 2009
Sony VAIOs get Gobi tech
At Mobile World Congress on Monday, Sony and Qualcomm announced that the former's VAIO notebooks will be the first to feature the latter's Global Mobile Internet Technology (Gobi), letting the PCs access 3G mobile broadband networks regardless of type. Sony will make Gobi standard fare in some of its ultra-portable VAIO notebooks, including the Z, TT and new P series. Apart from built-in mobile broadband capabilities, the Qualcomm chips also feature an integrated GPS sensor.
Unlike previous Sony VAIO models with built-in 3G modems, the new ones will allow access to both HSPA and EVDO networks. The current VAIO P equipped with a mobile broadband module is unable to use 3G Internet service beyond Verizon's wireless broadband network, for example. The Gobi module includes a Qualcomm MDM1000 chipset along with the required software and APIs, along with a reference design that includes EV-DO Rev. A support in the box.
