GPRS bundle to speed up configuration

Vodafone has signed up a number of hardware partners who will offer products preconfigured to connect over its GPRS service

Vodafone has announced agreements with a number of system vendors to offer hardware ready-linked to Vodafone's General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network. The deals will make it easier for firms to support mobile clients, by removing the need for communications hardware and network connections to be sourced separately from the client devices.

Vodafone said that it had signed agreements with Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, HP, IBM, Psion Teklogix and Toshiba to offer equipment such as laptops and handhelds with built-in connections to its network. IT managers buying from these suppliers would then only have to configure the devices to access their corporate systems, effectively halving the work of setting up each client for remote access.

"By providing an integrated mobile data and hardware solution from a single source, 'Connected by Vodafone' is a step change in the way that business customers can fulfil their mobile business needs," said Thomas Geitner, head of Global Products and Services at Vodafone.

IBM said that from December 2002 selected models of its ThinkPad laptop range will be supplied with Nokia D211 GPRS PC Card adapters configured to connect to the Vodafone network. "We're basically taking on the role of integrator for our large corporate customers that want mobile wireless," said an IBM representative.

Connected by Vodafone products will be tested, configured and supported by the suppliers, not Vodafone itself, the mobile operator said. Customers would still need a contract with Vodafone for billing of mobile charges, however.

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