HSDPA for Mac?
I am looking for a means of connecting Mac laptops via HSDPA. Typically this would be via a data card but some Mac laptops have no suitable slot at all (e.g. the MacBook and PowerBook G4 12") and as we will also have a mixture of PowerBook G4 15" and MacBook Pro laptops a data card would be a pain in the neck due to the different types of slots (ExpressCard vs. PC Card).
Here in the UK there is another data card ish approach available from Vodafone (and no one else) which uses a USB adapter (and this does do HSDPA and have Mac software). However this (like a data card) still means a separate device (to your mobile phone) and an additional SIM and contract.
Currently we do GPRS via Bluetooth to a mobile phone and this works simply and easily for all the laptops (but sloooowly).
Ideally of course I would want an Apple iPhone with HSDPA, but…
1. It is not shipping in the UK until towards the end of the year
2. Even then it is not certain it will have HSDPA
3. It is not 100% certain it will be usable as a modem
So, while I wait for Apple to deliver the holy grail of mobile phones, I was wondering if anyone could tell me of :-
A mobile phone that does HSDPA,
has Bluetooth,
is available in the UK,
and is Mac friendly for use as a 'modem'. (Historically Nokia's have worked very well, and Motorola is a pig to setup.)
Note: I am aware of software like "Mobile High Speed" which allows using additional data devices that themselves do not have Mac support, but such software adds an extra cost, complicates the install and setup, often has very annoying copy protection and does not use the standard Internet Connect application. Basically such programs suck. Not to mention the worries over compatibility with Leopard, Intel, etc.
Many thanks for your suggestions.
Here in the UK there is another data card ish approach available from Vodafone (and no one else) which uses a USB adapter (and this does do HSDPA and have Mac software). However this (like a data card) still means a separate device (to your mobile phone) and an additional SIM and contract.
Currently we do GPRS via Bluetooth to a mobile phone and this works simply and easily for all the laptops (but sloooowly).
Ideally of course I would want an Apple iPhone with HSDPA, but…
1. It is not shipping in the UK until towards the end of the year
2. Even then it is not certain it will have HSDPA
3. It is not 100% certain it will be usable as a modem
So, while I wait for Apple to deliver the holy grail of mobile phones, I was wondering if anyone could tell me of :-
A mobile phone that does HSDPA,
has Bluetooth,
is available in the UK,
and is Mac friendly for use as a 'modem'. (Historically Nokia's have worked very well, and Motorola is a pig to setup.)
Note: I am aware of software like "Mobile High Speed" which allows using additional data devices that themselves do not have Mac support, but such software adds an extra cost, complicates the install and setup, often has very annoying copy protection and does not use the standard Internet Connect application. Basically such programs suck. Not to mention the worries over compatibility with Leopard, Intel, etc.
Many thanks for your suggestions.
PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.9)