Sierra Delivers 3.6Mbps Wireless Card

Sierra Wireless said Thursday it planned to expand its lineup of PC cellular data cards by adding an HSDPA-capable AirCard model. The company expects the first shipments to begin sometime later this year. According to tests, the PC card could theoretically support data speeds of up to 3.6Mbps, and could reach 7.2Mbps with future firmware upgrades.

Currently, UMTS or HSDPA networks already exist in some 50 countries, according to the GSM Association. The device, the AirCard 875, supports tri-band HSDPA / UMTS and quad-band Class 12 EDGE / GPRS connectivity. At its maximum speeds, the card could provide comparable connectivity to that of today's DSL and cable high-speed connections. Sierra also plans for a CDMA EV-DO Revision A-compatible card, the 595, expected later this year.