How Much Would You Pay To Have WiFi For Your Smartphone?

[Mike Temporale]

Overwhelmingly you have told us that you want WiFi access from your Smartphone. Currently, yesterday's poll indicates that 90% of you want WiFi access via built-in or a SDIO card. It's frustrating to see that so many of us want this, yet the hardware vendors haven't stepped up to deliver. :(

Since it's obvious that the demand is there for WiFi access, maybe manufacturers think we aren't willing to pay a reasonable amount for this. What other reason could they have for not delivering on this by now? :? So today's poll is about what all of you would be willing to pay for a WiFi card.

[Ramin]

We should be aware that SDIO WLAN cards which are available today (for Pocket PCs) all cost above US$100 (SRP).

Socket SDIO Wireless LAN Card (http://www.socketcom.com/product/WL6200-480.asp)
costs US$129 (http://www.socketstore.com/product.asp?sku=2401843) from its Socket Store website.

SanDisk Wi-Fi SDIO Wireless LAN Card (http://www.sandisk.com/retail/c-wifi-sd.asp) and SanDisk 256MB Wi-Fi SDIO Wireless LAN (http://www.sandisk.com/retail/256mb-wifi-sd.asp)
costs US$109.99 (http://www.esend.com/sandisk/product.asp?sku=SDWSDB%2D000%2DA10M) and US$149.99 (http://www.esend.com/sandisk/product.asp?sku=SDWSDB%2D256%2DA10) (respectively) direct from SanDisk USA.

C-guys SD-Link11b SDIO WLAN card (http://www.c-guys.com/Sdlink11b_index_en.htm)
costs US$115.00 (http://www.mobilelinktech.com/shop/wlan/wl0sdcg100.php) from Mobile Link Technology Ltd., Hong Kong.
I believe that unless there is sufficient demand from Smartphone users who are willing to pay more than US$100 for a SDIO WLAN card, support for current generation SDIO-ready Smartphone (2002, 2003) models will be unlikely any time soon.

[Mike Temporale]

We should be aware that SDIO WLAN cards which are available today (for Pocket PCs) all cost above US$100 (SRP).

I have to admit, that I'm a little surprised at the number of people who think they can get a quality product for under $60. :?

[David C]

Well, I belive it's human nature to want to pay as little as we can when we purchase things, so I'm not surprised.

However, this should not stop sandisk from writing a driver for the smartphone. The more compatible the product is, the more they are going to sell. The more they make to sell, the cheaper it is to make. Plain and simple.