Vodafone is to launch a data card for laptop computers, its first commercial third generation service in Europe, over the next four weeks. Irish customers will have to wait until the early summer, however.
The Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS data card will enable Vodafone customers to access internet and e-mail at up to ten times the speed of GPRS, also known as 2.5G.
The company says the wireless internet product will enable customers to work anywhere. Where 3G coverage is not available, the card automatically switches to Vodafone's GPRS network.
Vodafone Ireland currently has 200 3G sites covering 40% of the population. It expects to launch its 3G consumer offering in the second half of this year, subject to handset availability and performance.
