New GPRS notebook card 'reaches 57Kbit/sec rates'

By steve malone

Posted on 2 Oct 2002 at 15:15

Managing email and viewing Web pages on the move via your mobile phone account is now possible with the Sony Ericsson GC75 PC Card Modem.

Costing around £200, the GC75 uses GPRS to support an 'always-on' connection. It also eliminates the need to dial in, as emails and information updates are sent and received automatically.

Sony Ericcson claims that the GC75 will work across five continents in more than 160 countries. A triple-band GSM (900/1800/1900) modem, the card operates at data speeds of up to the maximum 57.6 Kbit/sec HSCSD data transfer.

The GC75 works with any Type II PC card slot running Windows 98, 2000, Me, NT4.0 or XP, and requires 30 MB of free hard disk space. The GC75 can remain permanently in a laptop to be always online for data transfer (with GPRS), enabling users to send email at the same time as they talk on the phone, if they have a dual SIM card or additional subscription.

Therein lies the rub. Of the four major mobile phone networks, only Vodafone readily offers dual SIMs for a single mobile account. Sony Ericcson spokesman, Mark Terry, admitted this could be a problem. 'You can get a SIM from Orange but it's a bit of a nightmare. T-Mobile do not allow dual SIM cards - for security and system reason, the same as mmO2. All they offer is the opportunity to have two accounts - two numbers and use one card just for data. I don't find it a hassle to swap the SIM in and out but if you are going to be a heavy user, it makes sense to go with an operator that fits your usage.'

The other issue is that, as the phone can be 'always-on', GPRS charges are by the megabyte so half an hour's absent minded surfing every day can add up to a hefty amount on your bill.

The GC75 comes with a detachable antenna, protective case (to fit card and antenna), quick start guide, CD-Rom including drivers, applications, documentation, PC software and user manual.

Sony Ericcson says that the GC75 will be available in major stores of Dixons and PC World 'soon'.