Last year, we already talked about the possibility of mobile carriers offering 3G capable netbooks as part of their line-up. Now, Rogers is doing just that with the HP Mini 110.
Rogers is the first mobile carrier in Canada to offer up a subsidized netbook in the country and it’s a pretty good looking one at that. The HP Mini boasts of a 10.1-inch display, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, one of the best keyboards in the market, WiFi, and most important of all, also comes with embedded 3.5G connectivity. This basically allows you to connect to the internet via Rogers’ 7.2Mbps network which is now available in 25 top markets in Canada stretching form Victoria to Halifax.
Rogers’ HP Mini 110 is available at Future Shop and Best Buy retail outlets for $299.99 on a 2-year contract. Meanwhile, Rogers’ wireless data plans for internet ready netbooks start at a reasonable $25 plus additional $6.95 system access fee.
With this new treat from Rogers, this definitely signifies the start of a completely new ball game. Will Telus, Bell and the rest of the Canadian carriers follow suit? That still remains to be seen, but if they want to stay competitive and in step with Rogers, they'll definitely have to.
Rogers Introduces Canada's First 3.5G Embedded Netbooks
Rogers mobile Internet ready netbooks offer built-in mobile broadband
technology for the ultimate access to your online worldTORONTO, July 10 /CNW/ - Another innovation first from Rogers was announced today with the launch of mobile Internet ready netbooks. Canada's fastest network is now the mobile Internet service provider for the first 3.5G embedded laptops in Canada - exclusively from HP.
The HP Mini 110 netbooks now available include embedded mobile broadband technology to connect to the Web over Rogers 3.5G wireless network across Canada - three times faster than any other - offering customers the freedom to choose when and where they enjoy a true broadband Internet experience. With download speeds up to 7.2 Mbps, Rogers mobile Internet ready netbooks deliver the ultimate convenience and productivity for work or play online with just a few clicks - no need to search for WiFi or wired access.
"Just as voice communications have long expanded beyond finding a pay phone or waiting until you get home to make a call, as the Internet evolves from a source of information to an enabler of communication, mobile Internet ready netbooks are the perfect companion to our richly connected lives," says Mansell Nelson, Vice President of Business Product Management, Rogers Wireless. "Rogers is proud to lead this innovative new product category and now offer our customers an even wider selection of wireless products to meet their mobile needs."
The HP Mini 110 is available for $299.99, exclusively at Future Shop and Best Buy stores across Canada with a two year plan. Wireless data plans for Rogers mobile Internet ready netbooks start at just $25.00, plus $6.95 system access fee and other fees a month for 500 MB.
HP Mini 110 Series PC
- Featuring a 10.1-inch display and a keyboard that is
92 per cent the
size of a standard notebook PC, the HP Mini 110 starts at 2.57
pounds and measures just over one-inch thick. Powered by an Intel
Atom Processor, the HP Mini 110 supports up to 1 GB of memory and
comes equipped with a 160 GB hard drive."Whether it's for business or personal use, Canadians want a fast connection to the Internet whenever and wherever they happen to be," says Jeff Cates, Vice President of Consumer Marketing at HP Canada. "Through this first-of-its-kind offering in Canada, HP wants to continue to deliver the technology our customers need to meet the needs of their increasingly mobile lifestyles."
The Rogers 3.5G HSPA network is now available in more than 25 of Canada's top markets from Victoria to Halifax, reaching more than 75 per cent of the population. For more information on current coverage areas, please visit www.rogers.com/coverage.
About Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless provides wireless voice and data communications services across Canada to more than 8 million customers under both the Rogers Wireless and Fido brands. Proven to operate Canada's fastest mobile data network as well as the most reliable network for voice with the clearest reception and fewest dropped calls, Rogers Wireless is Canada's largest wireless provider and the only carrier operating on the global standard GSM and highly advanced HSPA technology platforms. In addition to providing seamless roaming in more than 200 countries/areas with its GSM based services, Rogers Wireless also provides wireless broadband services across Canada utilizing its 2.5GHz fixed wireless spectrum. Rogers Wireless is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For further information, please visit www.rogers.com.
