Sarah FalsonPC- and notebook-maker Asus will be launching a range of sub-$2,000 notebook computers in the next month with embedded 3G modules in partnership with Vodafone, the company revealed in an address to journalists and industry-professionals at the annual Influence consumer electronics and IT conference today in the Hunter Valley.The notebooks will come pre-packaged with a Siera Wireless SIM card, which users can either hook-up to a Vodafone plan in which case they will receive a $250 cashback grant from the service provider, or any other mobile phone provider of their choice.
The company views the market for both 3G and GPS-enabled notebooks as a growing area in the next three to five years, said a representative today.
Though the GPS models will not launch this year, the company is researching heavily in this area.
“These days GPS is a device that shouldn’t be restricted to the car – you don’t want to leave it in the car anyway because it could get stolen,” he said.
“We need to incorporate it into more products rather than a standalone GPS system. Imagine using Google Earth and being able to map out your photo album – GPS is becoming incorporated in digital cameras along with mobile phones and laptops are next.”
According to the Asus representative, the company has already manufactured a range of trial notebook models with built-in GPS that it is testing in partnership with child protection services in the US.
In the meantime, the company’s 3G-enabled models will be sold through mainly IT resellers rather than mobile phone outlets.
Asus also has Wimax-enabled notebooks penciled in for release in Australia next year.