PC Card combines tri-band GSM and GPRS

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://eshop.option.com/scripts/product.asp?departement=158&amp;index=1">http://eshop.option.com/scripts/product.asp?departement=158&amp;index=1</a><br /><br />Thomas Scheen sent in word to let us know about this tri-band (three GSM frequencies) + GPRS PC Card, "GlobeTrotter - Universal Tri-Band GSM/GPRS PC-Radio Card". I also heard about it from the Swedish distributor, <a href="http://www.datanat.se/main.htm<br />" target="_blank">Datanät</a>.<br /><br />The PC Card has Pocket PC drivers, so if you are looking for a one-stop communication solution for your Pocket PC (that supports PC Cards), this could be it!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/gprs_1.jpg" />

[FM]

The iPaq GSM/GPRS tri-band option has been developed by Option, so basically the radio part is exactly the same hardware...

[orinoco]

Hello:

Sierra Wireless also came up with the Aircard 750 model which offers tri-band GSM/GPRS and comnpatibility with pretty much all notebook, handheld pc and pocket pc operating systems ? Any idea of how these two compare head-to-head ?

Fernando

[semsoid]

Sierra Wireless wins hands down against Globetrotter.

1. SW supports Voice on both Pocketpc and Laptop/Desktop (if your cellular provider supports it), where as GT supports it only on Laptop/Desktop.

2. GT desktop software looks ok, but Pocketpc counterpart is a piece of crap. It loads a dll and a stupid connection creator which is used to create GPRS connections. SW not only has a full featured software, but also allows you to see your reception level, phonebook and lots of other options, including voice.

3. The only problem with SW is antenna, which has to be attached for the card to work and it feels like it is easily breakable. I don't know why they switched from 510 version, in which the antenna was staying in the card and could be extended. But this is very minor problem.

So, I'd say till Option comes with a decent software on PPC, stay away from Globetrotter.