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Verizon Wireless is taking big steps to bring its wireless broadband technology to the masses.

On Monday, the company announced plans to embed its technology in notebook computers from three top manufacturers: Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo, which earlier this year bought IBM's ThinkPad division.

Verizon Wireless offers its BroadbandAccess service, which is based on a technology called Evolution-Data Optimized, or EV-DO, in 60 markets across the United States. The service allows customers to connect to the Internet wirelessly wherever a Verizon Wireless signal is available. Download speeds average between 400kbps and 700kbps, comparable to some DSL services.

Today, the service requires users to purchase a separate wireless card, which fits into a laptop, for about $100. Starting in the first quarter of 2006, Dell will offer customers the option of embedding Verizon's EV-DO functionality into its Latitude series of laptops. Dell already gives customers two other choices to connect to the Internet wirelessly: Wi-Fi technology and Cingular's EDGE technology, which provides download speeds between 100kbps and 135kbps.

On Monday, HP also announced it will be working with Verizon to offer an EV-DO-ready laptop. The new laptops, using chipsets from Qualcomm, will be available in early 2006. Lenovo said Verizon EV-DO technology will be embedded in its Z series notebooks available in October.
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Read More / Source: News.com