Why no WWAN in ultrabooks?

Hardly any ultrabook comes with an integrated 3G or 4G WWAN module. For me this is an essential component of an "ultra" mobile computer.
There are a few exceptions like the Lenovo X1 Carbon, Vaio Z, Fujitsu U772 among others.

In my case the only requirements I have is a Full HD display and a WWAN module. While there are many Full HD ultrabooks around, guess how many of them come with a WWAN module?
It's exactely 1! The Vaio Z - which btw is the most expensive machine of all. Not a single alternative around on the whole planet.

Is my configuration really that exotic that there is no demand for such a thing?
What do you think is the reason manufacturers skip WWAN, and what can we do to make them aware of this nuisance?

# SPACE
Most WWAN module come as MiniPCIe Cards and don't take much room. Antennas go into the display bezel.
Is that really so cumbersome to the race to the thinnest device?

# WEIGHT
Well, same questions as above

# PRICE
Do manufacturers think customers will pass if the device will be $150 more? Do they have to pay any license fees?

 

Yes it is, it's already not easy to cram the cooling and basic components into an ultrabook, a mPCI-E slot would make it even harder. There is no socketed RAM in most ultrabooks for a reason. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it does make the whole designing a notebook of that size more complex and more expensive obviously. I mean factor in the thickness of the mPCI-e connector and the add-on card. It could be soldered though. The same goes for the space occupied by two extra antennas, depending on what you have to cram behind the lcd panel.

Nah

Ask yourself how many people care about having 3G/4G in a laptop, we're not talking about a smartphone and a tablet after all. If you look at regular notebooks offering 3G or 4G, the ones that do are usually business laptops, same goes for ultrabooks. It's not something most consumers care about (or at least that is the way manufacturers see it). So why put more into developments costs and production costs for something most consumers will not care about and either sell the computer at a higher price meaning that you'll sell less or have multiple SKUs which means that it'll cost more than mass producing and managing only model. also, manufacturers are kinda set in their ways for better or worse.

If you add all that, it makes for a rather niche market and consumer laptops are more of a race to the lowest price at razor thin profit margins. The Vaio Z is seen as a premium product so it's normal to see that kind of options and the business ultrabooks are aimed at businesses for whom this feature matters more than to the average consumer.

Also, while there are some ultrabooks with a 1080p display, there aren't that many compared to ultrabooks with 1600x900 or 1366x768 display. Unfortunately, that means that the combination of WWAN and 1080p is even less likely. I would guess that this is likely to change with the fusion of tablets and ultrabooks, people are more likely to want those features in a hybrid of some kind.

If you look at the ones offering WWAN:
Vaio Z: high end premium ultrabook
X1 Carbon: business ultrabook
Latitude 6430u: business ultrabook
Elitebook ultrabooks: business ultrabooks
Fujitsu U772: that one is an unknow to me.

EDIT: I'm not saying it doesn't suck, it does, just trying to illustrate why manufacturers don't bother much about WWAN.

 

Thanks for the input tijo!

It's probably the main question if there is enough demand. Thats why I am asking if my requirements are that exotic and would like to hear your thoughts.

But I do know a lot of people who use mobile broadband on their notebooks. Some being non-power users using it even at home for the purpose of having a pre-paid connection. While in this case using a USB Surfstick or your phone as a modem would also do the job, I think it's quite annoying on the road. Those ultrabooks are made for mobility and I think its the perfect reason to include a modem.

It adds up, but quite a few ultrabook manufacturers are also in the tablet / smartphone market and should have broad knowledge of how to squeeze a modem into very little space.

 

I personally think your requirements aren't that exotic as far as WWAN goes and you're right about the point of an ultrabook being supposed to be a portable device that you can easily carry anywhere hence the need for WWAN. However, as of now, I see WWAN and 1080p together on a 13"-14" ultrabook as being exotic. Hell, 1080p on a 14" notebook is exotic regardless of whether it is an ultrabook or not.

I still see WWAN as a rather niche market on laptops in general. Also, I'm not saying they don't have the expertise, but rather that they don't want to spend more money on designing ultrabooks as they have to. Having to include WWAN in the design makes for more constraints and likely take longer to design and be more expensive regardless of whether your engineers are capable of it or not. At least, that is the way I see it.

All that said, I do not care one bit for WWAN personally given that the places I use my laptop all have Wi-Fi: uni, my place, friend's place, etc.

 

Fortunately it isn't anymore. Thanks to Apple *cough* and the tablet boom, PC notebook manufacturers jumped on and added some more pixels. Acer, Asus, Samsung & Sony did it and others have announced it. I wish Apple would include WWAN. It wouldn't take long for the others to follow.

The wish or the existence?
But even if you don't care about resolution, the need for WWAN lets you have just a handful of choices.

It's always been more of a business feature, but as I said above ultrabooks and WWAN is a perfect match IMO.

 

Yes things are changing, but with the current offerings, it's still what I consider "exotic", but not for much longer

The existence, not the wish

Yes WWAN makes perfect sense with the concept of an ultrabook, but the thing is that thin is being pushed as the new popular thing regardless of whether people really need it or not meaning that everyone wants an ultrabook, but may not want WWAN making it a low priority. Everyone wants thin, but doesn't care about the rest, ok I'm making a rather large assumption there, but the average consumer isn't really tech savvy either. Heck, the amount of people I've seen asking for an ultrabook with performance that you simply can't cram in there without having the thing melt down has been increasing. We're not there yet.

 

WWAN is usually an option, not a standard feature, and having a full size empty mini PCIe slot is a lot of wasted real estate in an ultrabook.

 

Well it might be a waste of space or a hard thing to fit in but I tend to agree with OP. An ultrabook without a 3G/4G modem is as of much use as a tablet without one- which is to say not too much.

 

I'm so used to tethering my phone as a usb modem or wifi hotspot that it wouldn't matter for me. But if you can't do that I agree it's a killer feature. The rumored Lenovo X230s/X231s is supposed to have WWAN, but its screen reso sucks at 1366x768 with no option for higher res.

 

The problem seems to be that tethering without connecting the phone to the computer the battery on the phone quickly goes down.

 

it would be a good rumor as the x220 and x230 have them. but we also hit the fact they are not in the ultrabook category either

 

Is that really what people want, or what Apple told us we want?
The trend of ultrabooks comes at the expense of full featured ultraportables like the Toshiba Portege R930 or Vaio Z1, which I guess are a dying breed.

While I do agree to get rid of the optical drive, ExpressCard, VGA, separate Mic port, 3rd USB, I think its wrong not letting you have the option of WWAN.

All I'd like to see is the option. I wouldn't say it is a lot of wasted space. Alternatively it could also be soldered. See tablets for example. There are some models coming as WiFi only and some as 3G+Wifi, although things are even more cramped.

 

In normal notebook terms, it is not a ton of space. In the extra thin profile of an ultrabook, it certainly is a lot of wasted space when you consider that proprietary or gumstick/low profile ssds are used instead of msata, and that RAM is often soldered.

Yes it could be integrated into the board, but then you would be tied to GSM or CDMA, and thus one of a few carriers.

 

WWAN/data device plans in the US suck anyways, everything is ingrained into getting joe average dummy into bad contracts.

Ultrabooks(TM) with their arbitrary pointless thickness restriction (but no weight/size check which would be valid) are already too cramped for PCB and battery space. Tethering also gives you separate battery to drain.

 

The very commonly used Gobi 3000 chip supports both technologies imho

 

This one has it all!
Qualcomm RF360 Global LTE Design for Next-Generation Mobile Devices

 

I really think because of smart phone capabilities it is a dead issue. It is just to easy to use a phone any high end has and eliminates the entire which carrier issue and what bands. I know they are starting to get into less limited devices but being tied to one carrier is a bit of a hassle. Also for those who travel to other parts of the world I am not aware of a world solution yet. Easier to swap phones than computer I would say.

I USB tether because it is free but if money is no object then the $30 to $50 Hot Spot is an option. If you don't have a smart phone well I guess they consider you behind the curve.

 

A smart phone isn't as smart as a PC. At least not yet. And that argument wouldn't justify WWAN in a tablet either.
And tethering has its downsides as mentioned before.

From what I read between the lines it appears that US devices are mostly tied to a carrier. But if you can get hold of a European device, you'll most likely enjoy an unlocked device.

post #15 worldwide 3G solution
post #16 worldwide 4G solution
(except WiMAX)

 

I can only find two readily available cards where the Gobi 3000 module is shipped as dual mode capable. One is the Dell DW5630, the other is the Sierra MC8355.

 

My point about smart phones was they are the point of connection not that you use them instead of notebook. Sorry I was not clear. But mine did replace for a couple of years.

Yes I guess Europe is different than the States and Asia is different and south America and on and on................

I have no horse in this race I just comment on as I see. If I am wrong it will not be the first time.

I find at least in the US the situation is making it a little bit not cost competitive for the consumer. On some carriers to connect to your notebook costs nothing or ten bucks.

I am for the option if it offers real options that would in the US not carrier limited. I never have a problem with options and choice.

 

I've been installing both full but also half-sized wwan cards for a few months now, mostly on T430 and T230's.

Some things that went thru my desk: T430u and Fujitsu U772 (if I remember right...) Looks like there's even room to spare.
I took the pictures because they were the first ones I've seen live

Spoiler

I used to see a phone hanging on the computer on a serial or usb port in the early 00's. This is the future, let's have it integrated already Hotspot is a nice feature for temp needs but it burns battery like no other and (at least my former Desire) phone runs unpleasantly hot too as a result. Besides then the phone is dead when you need to call...

 

According to the datasheet the Huawei EM680, which I believe Sony uses, supports also both modes. So does the Option GTM689W promise.
Quite a useful site getting info on this subject btw: techship.se

Sorry, I got you mistaken there.
Yep unfortunately not only technologies & bands differ, but also choices. E.g. I haven't come across a notebook in South America with WWAN included although 3G is widely available.

Quite a waste of precious energy having mobile broadband, WiFi Hotspot & WLAN client running when all you need is 1 connection. Plus troubleshooting 3 possible causes of a connection loss.

 

A workaround could be to replace the existing WLAN card with a WiFi / 3G combo module such as the Option GTM671W/GTM679W

challenges:
- installing additional antennas (in the bezel)
- cutting chasis for a SIM card slot
- finding a SIM card holder with a cable long enough to connect to the module

(unfortunately the ultrabook I'm currently looking at - Samsung NP730U3E - has its MiniPCIe slot right in the middle of the device )

 

most mobile broadband providers sell a modem wifi hotspot like a huawei e589 or sierra wireless 76Xs that will do the job. the battery life is very good and can connect other devices at the same time. its a easier and better option imo

 

Another advantage of a built-in solution is the superior signal in contrast to all that dongle, tethering or mobile hotspot workarounds. Bigger chassis allows bigger antennas placed at locations less shielded.

My connection manager reports a signal strength of -51dbm (100%) using the built-in module while only -61dbm (86%) using the ExpressCard. (both times logged into the same radio cell from same location)

 

Samsung 13.3" Ativ Book 9 NP900X3F-G to be the first ultra/notebook with soldered WWAN

Hope we see some more of this

 

That card is really interesting. I wonder if it's compatible with this USIM card reader:

Usim Sim Card Reader Expansion Pack 3G HSPA WWAN Module | eBay
(cheaper sellers available, this one had good pictures)

That could provide a simple upgrade route in many interesting laptops.

I'd still take a unsoldered one It's cheaper to replace if(when) it fails after warranty ended. And upgradeable to 4G or whatever they'll make in next few years.

 

I totally agree. I meant to say it's welcoming there is a device with WWAN at all.

From the specs:
"Interfaces: USIM/SIM connection – Class B and Class C"

A while ago I collected information about that mod in this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/net...-wifi-3g-pcie-half-mini-card.html#post9150932

 

Some promising looking contenders to be released this month:

Lenovo ThinkPad X240
Toshiba Portégé Z30
Fujitsu Lifebook U904

 

Does anyone know if I could trick my sim card using a wwan card into thinking my dell e7240 is a phone? I have not purchased a wwan card yet, but I do have an extra line with 2.5GB which I pay $15 a month for that I would lose to utilize.