Various products enable you to connect wirelessly, and the newest products feature the most options built into the system, whether Wi-Fi, WWAN, or other connection options such as Bluetooth (for very short-range wireless connections). You'll take a look at some HP products now, as well as plans offered by leading service providers.
Notebook PCs
All HP notebooks enable you to add expansion cards for wireless capabilities; however, cards can get lost, stolen, misplaced, or broken. (Did you know: mobile operators often provide "free" or low-cost subsidized expansion cards or USB modems when you sign up for new service – but if you need to replace your card or USB modem, you will often pay the full price – as much as $250, or more?).
Today's HP Mobile Broadband notebooks allow you to purchase a system with WWAN already built in OR, for select models, you can add an after-market WWAN kit that is easily user-installed.
Mini notebooks
The popularity of "mini" notebook PCs, also called "netbooks", is skyrocketing. These tiny PCs are smaller and lighter than even an ultra-mobile notebook computer. Mini notebooks are also typically less expensive than other notebooks, because their memory and storage capacity is lower, and they do not have CD-ROM/DVD drives. Mini notebooks are really designed and best utilized for network-based activities as opposed to "local" (offline) applications such as heavy word processing, spreadsheets and the like. Because of their portability and use case, WWAN is an extremely popular feature when it comes to mini notebooks.
Selecting a provider
HP partners with service providers including Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and AT&T Mobility to offer integrated mobile broadband access (WWAN). Details and costs of the various plans are available from the individual mobile operators, or you can call HP Wireless at 1-866-890-6938 to learn more about wireless coverage and current data rate plans of all three of these mobile operators.
To put it all together, you need three things to get your wireless access running smoothly – a notebook PC configured for wireless, software, and a connection to a service provider. This guide examined the HP notebooks and handhelds that provide built-in options for wireless access. These products also come with software installed to get you connected, whether via short-range Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspots, or WWAN access.
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