Connect Your Laptop to the Wireless Internet with a PC Card

Wireless PC cards for laptops plug into the PCMCIA Cardbus port or Expresscard port on your laptop. They provide high speed internet connectivity for mobile use, using CDMA EVDO or UMTS GSM networks.

They provide the same functionality as tethering your PC to a data enabled phone, such as the HTC Touch. You can get them for either the GSM or CDMAnetworks from your local wireless service provider. The data plan rates tend to be higher than those for data enabled phones.

So why would you get a dedicated card, if your cellphone can provide the same thing at a lower cost? There are a few good reasons:

• you don't want to mess around with cables or Bluetooth connections to your laptop
• you want to be able to surf the net and be on your phone at the same time
• you want the latest high speed revisions of the data protocol that may not be on your phone
• you want to use a different network for data, because voice coverage may be better with a different provider

Some examples of PC Cards or 'air cards' as they are sometimes referred to (from Bell):

Sierra Wireless AC595 Connection card
It's the ultimate tool for speed and convenience! Enjoy instant connectivity to the Bell high speed mobile network - when you want, where you want!

Novatel Wireless X720 ExpressCard®
Break free from slow dial-up connections! The Novatel Wireless X720 ExpressCard gives you quick and easy wireless laptop access to the Internet from practically anywhere.

Novatel Wireless P720 Connection card
Plug in and surf! Enjoy instant connectivity on the data optimized high speed mobile network from Bell – wherever your business takes you.

Novatel Wireless U720 USB modem
Connect to broadband-like speeds with your familiar USB interface – when you want, where you want!