The rapid growth of the HSPA mobile broadband module market has been highlighted by Ericsson at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week.

Ericsson, returning to the CES event after an absence of several years, demonstrated an HSPA module that enables laptop users to access mobile broadband services at home or on the move.  Ericsson also showcased the growth of its Mobile Broadband Modules business unit, which in less than a year has established the leading position in embedded HSPA modules.

“We now have two of the seven largest PC brands among our customers. This is an extremely dynamic market segment and there was a huge amount of interest at CES,” said Kursten Leins, Strategic Marketing Manager - Multimedia, Ericsson Australia. 

"Towards the end of 2007 we witnessed a rapid decline in the cost of HSPA mobile broadband plans from all Australian operators, to a level that is on-par with some fixed broadband service offerings.  We see 2008 as a pivotal year for consumer devices with HSPA-embedded modules and this will help make mobile broadband a mass market offering.” 

Today users are accustomed to turning on their mobile phones and having them work almost everywhere.  The same level of connectivity is now possible with laptops and other devices equipped with embedded HSPA mobile broadband modules.

“HSPA is being embedded in laptops now and will soon be included in a wide range of other consumer electronics devices, such as gaming systems, digital cameras, GPS navigators, and car maintenance systems,” added Mr Leins.

Ericsson's HSPA module, designed, manufactured and marketed by the Embedded Modules product area, supports all mobile standards: HSPA, EDGE, GPRS and GSM.  For HSPA, it offers 7.2Mbps in the downlink and 2Mbps in the uplink.  The HSPA module, smaller than a credit card, will be included in a range of laptops to be launched in Q2 2008.

More information, including hi-res images, can be found here.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
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Ericsson Australia
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