Sprint slips out Merlin CC208 ExpressCard, PC Card 4G modem
updated 01:50 pm EDT, Sun August 21, 2011
Sprint Merlin CC208 brings hybrid cards to 4G
Sprint in amidst its phone additions Sunday also added an otherwise unannounced new modem to its 4G devices. The Novatel Wireless Merlin CC208 is rare in supporting both WiMAX and 3G while taking up a hybrid card form factor. Its core modem is an ExpressCard/34 device that can fit into some MacBook Pros and Windows PCs, but that modem can cradle in a PC Card adapter that supports older notebooks.
The modem has few extras but does have GPS awareness to provide its location for supporting apps. On the 4G network, it should hit Sprint's usual claims of 3-6Mbps downloads in good conditions and 10Mbps at its peak.
No word has been given as to whether the CC208 is available or how much it costs. The Novatel modem does have explicit support for computers using Mac OS X Tiger, Windows XP, or higher.
