Laptops Arena

Next-generation notebooks will feature the new multimode chip from Qualcomm, called Gobi, this leading to high-speed mobile data connections through 3G technology, this way eliminating the need for hotspots.



At the moment, the HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) and EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) are two options available as high speed solution, but the technology will bring both together, Gobi being certified to operate on EV-DO and HSPA networks all over the world.
A question that might be asked at this point is: 'Will there be a way for the carriers to lock this chip?' The answer is probably 'Yes.'" (Lisa Pierce, vice president at Forrester Research, an independent technology and market research company).

What Gobi will do is to integrate all the major cellular RF bands onto a single mobile modem chip, but WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), the new recently approved 3G mobile standard, will not be present in Gobi.

The new notebooks with Gobi chip will be available for the market sometime next year.