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option posts

FCC filing foretells ExpressCard data modem for T-Mobile subs?

by Chris Ziegler posted May 27th 2009 @ 12:27PM

It's great that T-Mobile's actively selling its 3G data network -- which still has that new-network smell, may we add -- to laptop users, but it won't be maximally useful until they've got both USB and ExpressCard options on the shelf. They've got the USB bit out of the way -- so turning our attention to the ExpressCard side, it seem that Option's GlobeTrotter Express 442 might be in the works (the 441 is pictured here, but the 442 is identical in appearance). This versatile piece covers fully four different WCDMA bands with up to 7.2Mbps HSDPA on the downlink and 5.76Mbps on the up, making it very, very useful no matter what country you might take the card to (of course, roaming charges are another matter altogether). No word on whether T-Mobile is actually planning on stocking the 442, but we're encouraged to see it pass the FCC's testing with AWS on board, so we'd venture to say it's a strong possibility.

[Via Cell Phone Signal]

AT&T prepping Option and Sierra Wireless modems for HSPA+ launch

by Chris Ziegler posted May 25th 2009 @ 3:08PM

We know that HSPA+ (also known as HSPA Evolution, depending on who you ask and which side of the bed they got up on that morning) is in the mix for AT&T ahead of LTE, and in order to make that launch a successful one, good data cards are a must. It looks like two of the cards coming out of the gate later this year will be the Option 393 -- an unassuming USB modem with a retractable plug and integrated microSD reader -- and the Sierra "Triple Lindy," a dual form factor ExpressCard in the same vein as the AirCard 402. The 393 will top out at 14.4Mbps down and 5.76Mbps up, while the Triple Lindy really burns rubber with 21.1Mbps down and 11.5Mbps up. Of course, all those speeds are purely theoretical -- but if we can even average 10 to 15 percent of that in real life, we're in good shape.

Gallery: AT&T prepping Option and Sierra Wireless modems for HSPA+ launch

FCC filing from Option -- yes, Option -- outs new Sidekick details

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 13th 2009 @ 1:52PM

The device itself has already been blessed with an FCC approval of its own, but it turns out that new Sidekick T-Mobile subscribers are patiently waiting for has a secret deep within its pretty shell: the radio guts are sourced directly from Option. We learn from filed documentation that the Belgian wireless specialist has crafted a custom module for the new phone called "Deimos," featuring an onboard Qualcomm MSM7201A core, 128MB of RAM, 256MB of ROM, AGPS, Bluetooth, microSD slot, and a stereo headset jack; HSDPA comes on the 850, 1700, and 2100MHz bands in addition to quadband EDGE, making it a perfect device for globetrotters and domestic 3G lovers alike. Interestingly, Deimos will be compatible with Sidekicks featuring Sharp's choice of 2 and 3 megapixel cameras and either 3- or 3.18-inch displays, but really, once you get above the magical 3-inch mark, who's counting? [Warning: PDF link]

[Thanks, Geert]

Option's GlobeSurfer X�1 turns USB modems into WiFi hotspots

by Sean Cooper posted Feb 16th 2009 @ 3:01AM

You can definitely feel the oncoming rush or portable WiFi hotspots now that we've got products like Novatel's insanely slick MiFi on the way to market, and now Option's stepped up with its own flavor. While the end result is the same as Novatel's offering, to get the GlobeSurfer X·1 surfing any kind of 3G data network, you'll need to add a USB 3G modem of your own. Designed as a home of office connectivity device to enable printer sharing, local network sharing, and access to back up services that leverage an existing USB 3G card -- or at least we assume. We'll get more on this as soon as we can find one

Option GlobeSurfer III wireless 3G router asks, 'am I pretty?'

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jan 23rd 2009 @ 5:04PM

We've seen a few 3G routers in our day, and now Option's back with its newest, aimed at homes and small businesses. The GlobeSurfer III was designed to look like something you'd actually want in your house (whether or not they actually hit the mark is your call -- the company used the word "stylish" so much in its PR that we felt we had to mention it) and the management software is meant to be easy enough that even networking novices could get their collective heads 'round it. Based on the Qualcomm 7225 chipset, this guy boasts HSUPA uploads up to 5.76 Mbps and downloads up to 7.2 Mbps. Also part of the deal is a USB port for sharing hardware over the network -- perfect for serving up media, sharing printers and the like. Pricing and availability to be announced.

Continue reading Option GlobeSurfer III wireless 3G router asks, 'am I pretty?'

AT&T and Option launch USBConnect Quicksilver

by Darren Murph posted Oct 15th 2008 @ 7:18AM

AT&T and Option jointly announced the launch of one of the world's smallest HSPA USB devices today, the USBConnect Quicksilver. The latest in the carrier's line of LaptopConnect devices, this mobile broadband unit weighs just 1.2-ounces and can roam (for a price, of course) in more than 150 countries, with 3G available in over 60. Best of all, this USB modem actually looks halfway decent for the fashionistas that care, boasting an "intelligent" protective cap and a mildly curvaceous flair. Oh, and did we mention that it's available today at no cost if you ink your name to a two-year DataConnect plan of $60 or more? 'Cause it is.

AT&T offers free Option GT Ultra and GT Ultra Express HSUPA cards (must sell soul)

by Thomas Ricker posted Feb 14th 2008 @ 7:18AM

Check it data fans, AT&T just announced a pair of new HSUPA LaptopConnect cards from Option. The GT Ultra goes type II PCMCIA while the GT Ultra Express is, you guessed it, destined for ExpressCard34 slots. Both cards are tri-band UMTS/HSPA 850/1900/2100MHz and quad-band GPRS/EDGE capable for BroadbandConnect speeds of about 600Kbps to 1.4Mbps on the way down or 500Kbps to 800Kbps back up the tubes. Those bands should get your suit connected in some 140 countries spanning the US, Europe, Japan and Korea. The cards are Mac and PC compatible and will set you back ~~$50~~ 0$ (for a limited time starting tomorrow) plus a two year contract of at least $60 per month. After you mail-in the appropriate rebate forms of course... which you'll probably forget to do.

A fresh round of AT&T release dates

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 10th 2008 @ 1:14PM

Wouldn't it be pretty awesome to have the launch dates for, like, all of AT&T's most anticipated devices on one convenient 440 x 330 image? Well, that's not quite what we have here -- the Sony Ericsson K850 is nowhere to be found, for one -- but this is a solid start. It sounds like that SMT5700 (codename "Bulldog," how cool is that?) that we've been anticipating for nearly a year now will finally get outed on February 5 alongside the Vu. We still don't know whether AT&T's MediaFLO network will launch at the same time, and we've heard rumors that there will be a second Vu without MediaFLO support, so we could be seeing that here but we're really not sure. Despite the missing K850, Sony Ericsson's still putting up a reasonably strong showing here with a pink W580i launching this week and the 3G Z750 in grey, pink, and purple on March 11. In addition to the Vu, LG will be offering the CU720 Shine in red on January 22 and in black (ooh, that might look hot!) on February 28. Option's HSUPA data cards are now targeted for January 24, and last -- and probably least -- the Motorola V3xx outstays its welcome by making an encore appearance in "lavender" on the 22nd of this month.

[Thanks, Kal]

Option intros iCON 225 USB modem for HSDPA

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 15th 2007 @ 9:12PM

First generation 3G USB modems were monstrous, unsightly bricks, but like everything else in modern electronics, the wonders of miniaturization are starting to take effect. Option's joining the party with its iCON 225, a 63 x 26 x 13mm stick that Option says responds "to the growing market demand for very small yet high-performance wireless solutions" -- in other words, yeah, we like 'em tiny. HSUPA sadly doesn't make the cut here, but the iCON 225 does include support for a mighty 7.2Mbps of downstream data when hooked up to an HSDPA network that supports such blazingly fast speeds. The modem's already shipping to carriers, so look for it to start showing up in retail channels very shortly.

[Via Electronista]

Updated AT&T availability dates!

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 4th 2007 @ 2:52PM

Like pretty much everything else in life, carriers' launch dates tend to slip, sometimes to the extreme (oh, come on, you can't tell us you've never procrastinated to the point where you couldn't make a due date!). To that end, we've gotten an updated look at AT&T's expected drop dates, and it seems like the wait has gotten a little longer for a few of the more anticipated handsets in the pipe. Some devices like the red version of the Nokia 6555 have slipped a couple weeks, while others -- the lowly Samsung A127 comes to mind -- have actually moved up. The Pantech Duo has also been pushed out from October 9 to the 30th, possibly to give the just-launched Tilt a little breathing room in the spotlight. Click on for the full list!

[Thanks, Kal-El]

Update: A second source is telling us that the Duo is still tracking for shipment "on or about" the 9th. Of course, the proof is in the pudding -- but either way, at least we'll be getting our Duo on before the month's out.

Continue reading Updated AT&T availability dates!

Updated look at AT&T's upcoming launches

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 21st 2007 @ 4:24PM

We've just been tipped on a fresh roadmap for AT&T's fall launches, and goodness, there's a little something for everyone in here! Note that these are order dates, subject to change -- not necessarily in-store dates -- so your mileage may vary trying to grab these devices on the dates you see here. First up, LG rolls out the CG180 and CU515 "Chiwoo" on October 2. Nokia adds another color for the 6555 on October 11, red, which we think will suite it quite nicely. Speaking of new colors, Sony Ericsson brings a black version of the W580i on October 9. The Pantech Duo -- a device we suspect many folks are getting fired up over -- should hit on the same day. From Motorola, the Q9 Global becomes orderable just a few days from now, September 25, alongside the Tilt from HTC. UTStarcom outs the AMOI-sourced 5700 on October 9, giving folks a low cost (albeit non-3G) Windows Mobile option. RIM gets busy with the Curve 8310 on October 4, effectively sunsetting the original 8300 by adding GPS into the mix. On the data modem side, Sierra and Option will both be contributing HSUPA devices in October. Let's hear it for speedy uploads! Follow the break for the full roadmap.

[Thanks, Superman]

Continue reading Updated look at AT&T's upcoming launches

Option's GlobeTrotter Express HSUPA card wins FCC approval

by Donald Melanson posted Aug 14th 2007 @ 2:39PM

Option has already done quite a bit of bragging about its various HSUPA and HSDPA offerings, but it looks like the company now has one more cause to pat itself on the back, as its GlobeTrotter Express HSUPA card has netted the all-important FCC approval. According to the company, that makes it the first such card to do so, paving the way for it to be released in the U.S. Apart from the ExpressCard form factor, however, the card is pretty much in line with the company's HSUPA USB adapter, with it boasting 7.2 Mbps download speeds and upload speeds approaching 2 Mbps, along with support for tri-band UMTS operation and compatibility with quad-band EDGE and GPRS. While there's nothing to hold it back now, there unfortunately still doesn't appear to be any word on a price or release date.

Vodafone, Option kick off HSUPA offering in Germany

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 9th 2007 @ 9:22PM

Some of us are still clamoring for mere 1.8Mbps HSDPA -- complete with a pedestrian 384kbps on the upstream side -- to go live in our neck of the woods, but that's not stopping Vodafone from rolling deep (way deep) in Germany. Voda has gone live in Bavaria with an Option GlobeTrotter Express HSUPA card, "customized to the exacting requirements of the operator" and offered at retail as the "Mobile Connect Card Express UMTS Broadband." The ExpressCard/34 offers a Cardbus adapter in box, firmware upgradeability, download speeds as high as 7.2Mbps, and a staggering (albeit theoretical) 1.45Mbps upstream. Mobile web server, anyone?

[Via Slashphone]

Nova Media intros Mac-ready GlobeTrotter Express 7.2 card

by Sean Cooper posted Apr 24th 2007 @ 1:38PM

It's refreshing to see high tech wizardry with Apple flavor hitting the shelves; if you have a hankering for travel and need fast connectivity no matter where you go, the GlobeTrotter Express 7.2 Ready has you covered. This Mac-compatible ExpressCard will bring triple band HSDPA / UMTS -- up to 7.2 Mbps -- and quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE to your Book, and thanks to the "Zero-CD" feature, drivers and software are auto-magically installed from the card's memory on first use (no worries, Windows users, you are covered here as well). The simple "launch2net" software provides instant detection and configuration of 300 network providers around the globe, meaning less time spent fiddling with APNs and passwords and more time online -- we know your provider's support team and accounting depts. will love this feature. The Nova Media site shows this as pre-order right now for roughly $400 US, but it should start shipping in early May.

[Via Macworld]

Rogers Wireless offers Option's GT MAX "7.2 Ready" data card

by Sean Cooper posted Apr 3rd 2007 @ 7:48PM

Rogers Wireless seems to be on a bit of a binge of late with HSDPA devices, and with a fledgling 3G network in the cards, that's just fine with us. Announced today is the Option GT MAX "7.2 Ready" data card; as you may have guessed, the "7.2 Ready" refers to the card's ability to be upgraded from 3.6Mbps to 7.2Mbps when the network supports it. The GT MAX card features quad band GSM / GPRS / EDGE, triple band HSDPA / UMTS, and an interesting butterfly-style fold away antenna that saves you having to pop the card out when not in use. Thanks to Option's "Advanced Radio Technology" (ART) with receive diversity and equalization to help improve both signal reception and reduce interference, the card is apparently garnering 50 percent greater throughput speeds in field trials. Pick it up for $149 CDN on a three-year contract.

[Via PR Newswire]