Panasonic Offers Gobi On New Toughbooks

[absolute55]

Panasonic to Offer Gobi On All New Toughbook Notebooks

Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, manufacturer of durable, reliable Panasonic Toughbook® computers, today announced it will offer Qualcomm's new Gobi(TM) global mobile Internet solution in its entire line of rugged laptops. Toughbook mobile computers featuring the multi-mode Gobi solution can take advantage of high-speed mobile Internet services offered by leading network operators in virtually all parts of the world.

In addition, two of Panasonic's Gobi-enabled, fully rugged laptops, the convertible tablet Toughbook 19 and flagship Toughbook 30 notebook, have received certification from Verizon Wireless for use on its CDMA2000® EV-DO network.

With Gobi-enabled Toughbook portable computers, mobile workers benefit from the worldwide high-speed data capabilities of multiple cellular broadband networks, while IT managers can streamline their operations by leveraging a single hardware and software solution for all of their nationwide and global branch office locations.

The combination of the embedded Gobi solution and Panasonic's Carrier Selection Application software enables Toughbook laptops to operate on both CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS) wireless networks and allows seamless network selection within a single device. Gobi's software-defined modem saves IT managers from having to physically remove notebooks from the field to make changes, which simplifies operations and management of field assets and helps maintain business continuity. Should a network change become necessary, Panasonic's connection manager software's intuitive "point-and-click" interface enables field workers to connect seamlessly to new mobile broadband networks in geographic areas where their usual wireless service provider might not offer coverage.

"Adopting Gobi as the sole 3G mobile broadband technology for our new products allows Panasonic to provide our customers with reliable and innovative wireless connectivity," said Victoria Obenshain, director, wireless strategy, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. "In addition, the certification of our fully rugged Toughbook notebooks on the Verizon Wireless network reflects our successful integration of Qualcomm's Gobi radio and our newly developed Carrier Selection Application designed to optimize the customer mobile broadband experience. Our expertise, combined with the experience of Qualcomm and our operator partners, will result in a new era of freedom and flexibility in mobile data access."

"For mobile and enterprise users, the need for widely available access to the Internet has become critical to productivity. Gobi technology allows for flexibility and efficiency in managing global mobile broadband access," said Mike Concannon, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. "Toughbook rugged laptops with embedded Gobi technology will offer IT managers and mobile workers the benefits of flexible service options, global roaming and a growing base of Gobi-compatible mobility software, such as Panasonic's Carrier Selection Application."

The Gobi-enabled Toughbook 19 and Toughbook 30 laptops will be available exclusively through authorized Panasonic Toughbook resellers nationwide beginning in October 2008. Panasonic anticipates it also will secure Gobi certification from Sprint. The company plans to introduce Gobi technology into all of its mobile computing products by the end of the first quarter of 2009.

[jesse]

AT&T certifies Qualcomm's Gobi technology

AT&T Inc. and Qualcomm Incorporated, a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data solutions, today announced that Qualcomm's Gobi(TM) global mobile Internet technology has been certified for use on the AT&T mobile broadband network.

Gobi technology gives users the freedom to connect to the Internet over wide-area wireless networks, providing fast, secure and convenient mobile broadband access and GPS functionality virtually anywhere in the world(1) via leading 3G wireless networks. With Gobi-embedded notebook computers running on the AT&T network, customers will realize higher connection speeds, as well as access to the nation's fastest 3G service when in the U.S. and the industry's largest international wireless footprint when abroad.

Today, the companies also announced certification for notebooks from two leading brands -- Panasonic and HP. Two of Panasonic's Gobi-enabled, fully rugged notebooks -- the convertible tablet Toughbook 19 and flagship Toughbook 30 notebook -- are now certified on AT&T's HSPA (High Speed Packet Access)- based BroadbandConnect 3G network. In addition, AT&T, Qualcomm and HP announced today that HP's refreshed line of notebooks featuring built-in AT&T and Gobi technology has been certified by AT&T.

"Qualcomm's Gobi technology is an innovation that will provide AT&T customers with significant benefits that we believe will lead to increased adoption of notebooks with built-in wide-area wireless technology, particularly among the business community," said Carolyn Billings, executive director of product marketing management for AT&T's wireless operation. "Gobi technology supports the high speeds available on AT&T's network and will provide our customers with potential cost savings on their hardware investments, a key consideration that could lead to the broader deployment of embedded notebooks."

"We are pleased to have reached this milestone with AT&T," said Mike Concannon, senior vice president of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. "This certification creates even more opportunity for today's mobile consumers to enjoy truly mobile Internet access using Gobi-equipped devices."

AT&T joins a growing list of leading operators from around the world that have certified Gobi technology for use on their networks. In the coming weeks, AT&T, working with leading notebook OEMs, plans to launch ambitious marketing programs to support the rollout of Gobi-enabled notebooks and services.

The embedded Gobi solution includes Qualcomm's MDM1000(TM) chipset, associated software and APIs, and a reference design for a software-defined configurable data modem supporting HSPA -- with full backward compatibility to GPRS/EDGE -- and other 3G wireless technologies.

AT&T BroadbandConnect is the nation's fastest 3G network with typical download speeds between 700 Kbps (kilobits per second) and 1.7 Mbps (megabits per second). Typical uplink speeds range between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps. BroadbandConnect is available today in more than 300 major U.S. metropolitan areas and, by year's end, AT&T expects to offer the service in nearly 350 major metro areas. AT&T has the broadest international wireless footprint of any U.S. operator, providing customers access in more than 150 countries, including more than 60 countries with 3G networks.

[Wingit]

No idea on how much extra you will need to fork out for one of these, as a standard Toughbook is already much more expensive compared to a regular notebook

[Dazed&Confused]

Has anyone been able to get the CF-30 with the Gobi stuff to work with AT&T's 3g? We are seeing a lot of finger pointing between Panasonic and AT&T. It looks like a driver problem.

Anyone?

[ToughBook]

1st off the reason these are more expensive than other PC's is because they are not like, or built like no other regular PC's. For the proper application uses, it is well worth the cost.

I personally have not used the Gobi setup yet. Mine is a MKll, Gobi is in the MKlll, the newest version. I do know of others that use it and like it. Mine has the embedded Verizon card, which I love! It hardly drops connection and the speed is far beyond my expectations.