American workers apparently are getting more comfortable accessing the Web via their cell phones and PDAs.
The number of mobile devices accessing the Internet via wireless broadband skyrocketed 154 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006, according to research released Tuesday by ComScore.
The study also found that mobile broadband had a higher presence on work computers (59 percent) compared with home or personal computers (41 percent).
Verizon and Sprint accounted for the majority of the mobile broadband market last year, according to ComScore.
"Though mobile broadband access is currently used by about 1 percent of the total U.S. Internet population it is poised for significant growth over the next few years," Serge Matta, senior vice president of ComScore, said in a statement. "As consumers increasingly demand and depend on portable Internet access, the demand for mobile broadband should continue to increase."
The study defined mobile broadband as connections based on cellular networks using a PC card, built-in adapter, or connections tethered via a cell phone or PDA, rather than via Wi-Fi hot spots.
HP iPaq 910 Business Manager
(Credit: HP)In addition to several other mobile product announcements today, HP showed off two new smart phones, and they're not for the faint of heart.
First, there's the HP iPaq 610 Business Navigator, a quad-band mobile with support for HSDPA and assisted GPS with integrated Google Maps. The Windows Mobile 6 (Professional Edition) device is also equipped with Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g with WPA2 security), 256MB Flash ROM/128MB SDRAM, and a 3-megapixel camera. Like the previous HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger, the iPaq 610 has more of a voice-centric focus and includes the same advanced voice command system found in the 510, but it does tout a bigger 2.8-inch screen (versus 2 inches diagonally), and it's a touch screen to boot. Another design enhancement is the new Smart Touch wheel found in middle of the alphanumeric keypad that lets you scroll through the various menus items. The iPaq 600 series is slated to ship in late September for about $600 for an unlocked version.
HP iPaq 610 Business Navigator
(Credit: HP)Now, for the messaging fanatics, there's the HP iPaq 910 Business Manager. As the successor to the HP iPaq hw6900 series, the iPaq 910 has a full QWERTY keyboard, push e-mail capabilities, and a 2.46-inch touch screen. Many of the smart phone's other features are the same as the iPaq 610's, including HSDPA support, assisted GPS, Bluetooth 2.0., Wi-Fi, and a 3-megapixel camera. While expected availability is late November or early December, HP did not release pricing information. There were no carrier announcements at this time, either.
HP iPaq 110 Classic Handheld
(Credit: HP)Ha! And people thought the PDA was dead. Today, HP introduced two new models to its iPaq line of handhelds: the HP iPaq 110 Classic Handheld and HP iPaq 210 Enterprise Handheld. Now, in this day and age of smart phones, will this type of classic PDA fly? I say yes. There are still plenty of people who want one device for organizing their contacts and appointments while keeping their cell phone separate. And heck, since Dell exited the handheld market in April and there hasn't been a new PDA from Palm in years, HP fills that void. Both devices are expected to start shipping in late October, while pricing has not been finalized at this time.
So if the name didn't give it away, the iPaq 110 is more for the everyday user--the student, the do-it-all supermom, the mobile professional. There's no revolutionary technology in here, but that's not to say, it's a snoozer. The PDA runs the latest Windows Mobile 6 Professional Edition and comes with integrated Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi. It's nice and trim at 4.5 inches tall by 7.1 inches wide by 0.5 inch deep and 3.6 ounces and features a 3.5-inch, 240x320 pixel touch screen. Underneath, the iPaq 110 is powered by a 624MHz Marvell PXA310 processor and 256MB Flash ROM and 64MB SDRAM.
HP iPaq 210 Enterprise Handheld
(Credit: HP)Meanwhile, the HP iPaq 210 will appeal to only a certain portion of the audience, namely vertical markets such as the medical profession. This business-centric handheld comes with advanced tools, such as HP's Enterprise Mobility Agent, a certificate enroller, and VoIP support. It's also equipped with a 24-pin connector and a mini USB port for terminal attachments such as bar code readers. Other highlights of this Windows Mobile 6 PDA include Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g with WPA2 security), a 4-inch, 262,000-color, VGA touch screen, 256MB of Flash ROM, 64MB of SDRAM, a voice recorder, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
On Sale Now: $245.00 - $299.99
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On Sale Now: $299.95 - $389.99
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