Even though only recently it had believed that
embedded wireless broadband (3G) capability for laptops
was difficult for enterprises to justify because of upfront
purchase costs, monthly costs and asset protection, market analyst
Gartner is now positive about the prospects for such
technology.
At the heart of the change of opinion are
new pricing plans and wireless WAN (WWAN) technology evolution
which Gartner believes will force changes in strategy.
Historically, says Gartner, embedded WWANs had been tied to
specific technologies and service providers, meaning that users
could not just swap cards out when they moved to an area not
covered by a certain carrier. Ongoing service costs were difficult
to justify, and roaming charges could drive costs even higher.
Additionally, Gartner regarded the high churn in WWAN technologies
and frequencies as possible caused of making
WWAN cards obsolete within two years inside a notebook with a
three-year expected life.
Now however, Gartner says that new technologies and pricing
structures are set to change this. It recognises chipsets that
combine multiple technologies and frequencies can provide nearly
universal geographic coverage and asset protection by promising a
three-year useful life. At the same time, it believes that carriers
are beginning to recognise the value of going beyond two-year
contracts to include daily and monthly rates, as well as programs
for letting international travellers use local rates on pay-per-day
plans.
Such changes will likely not only provide better economic
justification and asset protection for embedding wireless 3G
technologies in notebooks by the end of 2008, but also may help
justify wider deployments of the cards in the interim.
"Our standing recommendation against embedding WWAN cards in
notebooks — except for applications with a clear
return-on-investment justification — has been based on lack of
global coverage, high costs and poor asset protection," conceded
Ken Dulaney, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner.
"However, new technologies and pricing due by the end of 2008 have
the potential to eliminate the problems of embedded, wireless 3G
notebook purchases."
Gartner advises organisations to consider purchasing embedded 3G
in new notebook for moderate to extensive travellers in 2009. It
sees various influencing factors transitioning to a point where
embedded 3G will become superior from a cost perspective compared
with previously used alternatives, such as Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’ and
hotel
broadband for wide-area use. In addition carrier lock-I will
likely also be removed.