Sony Announces New VAIO-T350P/L -- First Notebook with Built-in WAN Connectivity

Sony today introduced a new version of its VAIO T ultra-portable notebook, the VAIO-T350P/L that is the first notebook to include integrated wireless wide area network technology. Sony is partnering with Cingular to provide internet access via the Cingular EDGE Network. By placing three forms of wireless connectivity into the VAIO-T350: WAN (EDGE), 802.11b/g and Bluetooth you'll surely find at least one way to connect to the web!

The EDGE connectivity will of course come at a cost. For people that buy the VAIO T with the integrated WAN capabilities, they will have a choice of paying $79.95 to get an unlimited data plan (aka, "all you can eat") or pay $49.95 per month for a 50MB limit data plan. The $79.95 options is much more popular, and Cingular will be offering the incentive of getting 30-free days of wireless service if you sign a 1-year agreement for the $79.95 unlimited data plan. You can also sign a two-year agreement for the $49.95 plan and get 30-free days of service.

Sony unveiled the new VAIO T at a press conference in New York City this evening, they invited everyone to a club on the west side of New York called "BED" where you literally go to bed to drink and eat. It's odd, yes. But after forcing us to climb onto these beds and wear socks, they handed out some VAIO T notebooks and each bed was paired up with somebody else running around the city with a VAIO T350. We had to guess where in the city the person was, I'm happy to say the folks in my bed figured out pretty fast that our chat partner "Nancy" was located in downtown New York at the South Street Seaport. They planted another person in Central Park and some guy on a train from which they all connected wirelessly via the Cingular EDGE network. So if your desires lead you to want to surf the web from a park in any of 18,000 towns in the U.S. covered by the EDGE network, by all means do consider the VAIO T350 P/L.

Here's a screen shot of us chatting with "Nancy" who's located outside at a seaport in NYC -- an example of being outdoors and connected with the VAIO-T350(view larger image)

Sony VAIO T350 with integrated EDGE network connectivity via Cingular Wireless network

For more info visit: www.sonystyle.com/cingular

 

$80 is rediculous for Cingular's data network. I wonder if the machines can be unlocked for use with T-Mobile, which is slower but more reasonable.

Brian

www.BargainPDA.com | www.DigitalCameraReview.com | www.NotebookReview.com | www.SpotStop.com | www.TabletPCReviewSpot.com

 

Why couldn't they have put the antenna inside the case? I don't like it sticking out, even if its not that noticable.

That "BED" event is pretty weird, but also cool in a way.