Asus Eee PC to get HSDPA next month

Computer maker Asus has announced its Eee PC mini laptop is to get embedded 3G for the first time.

The Eee PC, which launched back in 2007 and has since spawned myriad of copycat diminutive laptops as well as expanding into a range of Eees, has relied on built in wi-fi and the availability of hotspots for connectivity up to now.

But Asus said it plans to add HSDPA connectivity to its Eee PC 901 netbook to enable "convenient and high-speed access to the internet anytime, anywhere".

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Users will apparently be able to get downlink and uplink speeds of up to 7.2Mbps and 2Mbps respectively via HSDPA, it said. Wi-fi lovers should not despair however as the 3.75G 901 will still offer 802.11b/g - or even 802.11n, depending on the operator - as an alternative connectivity tech.

A new survey by broadband analyst Point Topic shows mobile broadband up-take is now a more popular route to get online than wi-fi hotspots, with 47 per cent of Brits using mobile broadband, compared to 42 per cent using wi-fi hotspots.

Electronics giant LG recently launched a netbook that it hinted might have built-in 3G in some markets in the world, though not in the UK.

Asus said the HSDPA-packing Eee will be released to market from October 2008 onwards.