Holy 3G Batman
Filed Under: Gadgets, UnObtainium
OQO has just announced its first ultra-mobile PC with built-in 3G cellular data. The OQO e2 is aimed specifically at the UK market and is a full Windows Vista-capable PC that includes a 3.6Mbit/s HSDPA modem, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The device will sell in the UK through Expansys at around £1290 ($2600) including Windows XP - about £170 more than a non-cellular version. It features a 5-inch 800 by 480 pixel WideVGA screen, a 1.6GHz low power VIA processor, and a full ASCII keyboard that slides out from under the screen.
The e2’s 3G modem will switch to UMTS or GPRS where HSDPA is not available. OQO’s CEO, Dennis Moore said that this version will not be sold in the United States. “3G wireless has spotty coverage in the US, but it’s great in Europe,” he said.
The OQO e2 will sell in the UK network-unlocked, and with or without a wireless contract, unlike the US, where the equivalent model features an EVDO data modem and is sold with a Verizon or Sprint connection.
“There’s so many carriers to certify with here in the UK,” he said. “In the US you need that relationship, but here we can be in the market without that.” It’s nice to see OQO are not attempting to lock the consumer into a carrier like Apple with their iPhone – which seems to be backfiring in Europe anyhow.
When the keyboard is closed, the e2 works as a tablet PC and includes a thumb-operated joystick. It has touch-sensitive horizontal and vertical scrollers in the screen frame, and can also be used with a pen although that needs to be an active stylus - the screen is not touch-sensitive. The non-cellular version has been available for some time now. Moore said that integrating the extra radio had presented challenges, especially in such a small format. “It’s combining all these radios and antennae that made it hard to do,” he added. “You can get simultaneous operation of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G, and next year there will be GPS too. I certainly look forward to that, and for now – no plans to ship to the USA, so read ‘em and weep. The makers website is here.
You can also buy it from amazon.com
