BIOS: Technology Means Business

3G, or third generation, is the generic term used for the next generation of mobile communications systems. The protocol enhances mobile services, offers multimedia and Internet access, as well as the ability to view video footage. The third generation technology used in the UK is called UMTS, and was launched by 3 (three) in March 2003. Over the years 3 has offered handsets carrying consumer-orientated services such as video calls, location-based applications, sports highlights, games and so on. Although 3 has now signed up over a million customers in the UK, the lack of data services means that few of these are likely to be mobile professionals.

Business-focussed 3G data services are now provided by all the major networks including Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and, most recently, O2. Before you select an operator, carefully consider factors such as 3G network speed and coverage, handover between 3G, GPRS and - in some cases - Wi-Fi networks, and tariff structure. To check whether Orange’s 3G service is available in your area, click here.

Busy mobile professionals, whether roaming internationally or on a short local journey, need simple and fast mobile access to their e-mail and office intranet applications. With these users in mind, Orange has developed a UMTS/EDGE and Wi-Fi combo data card, the Option GlobeTrotter Fusion. The only downside is that it doesn’t support HSDP (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), a new mobile telephony protocol. Also called 3.5G, HSDP has a chance to become the follow up of 3G - even though 3G is still not available in most countries.

Orange’s Option GlobeTrotter Fusion (54x4x125mm) is the latest in the company’s portfolio of data card products equipped with in-built EAP-SIM and Smart Card (PCSC) technologies, enabling automatic authentication to corporate WLAN and public Wi-Fi services across EMEA (900/1800MHz, EGSM and DCS bands). Frequent worldwide travellers should note that the card is not quad band (850/900/1800/1900MHz).

On a 3G network (requires 3G SIM) the Option GlobeTrotter Fusion enables a broadband connection at data speeds of up to 384Kbit/s. Move into a range of public Wi-Fi hotspot, corporate WLAN or your home wireless network and the Option GlobeTrotter Fusion then provides connection at speeds up to 54Mbit/s. And in areas where 3G or Wi-Fi services are not available, the Option GlobeTrotter Fusion still ensures relatively reliable and secure data connection over the widely available GPRS services at up to 53.6Kbit/s.

The Option GlobeTrotter Fusion opens up the true world of mobile wireless broadband and is the ideal companion for the mobile professional enabling the Internet, e-mail, video conferencing, and office applications with real-time secure VPN access to corporate applications while on the move. You even get an add-on external antenna for boosting the signal. Compatible with nearly all laptops equipped with a Type II PC card slot and Microsoft's Windows operating system (Mac OS and Linux users need not apply), the multi-mode (UMTS/WLAN/GPRS/GSM) data card provides transparent handover between UMTS and GSM/GPRS networks, should you not be able to connect to one or the other.

The data card also comes with IPSec client software for end to end secure corporate data exchange and synchronisation over VPN, is future-proof thanks to Flash Memory technology, and supports 802.11 WEP encryption using 64 or 128-bit key and Wi-Fi certified WPA Security (802.1x and TKIP). Corporates will also appreciate support for all major EAP, including EAP-SIM (3GPP TS 23.234) within the purview of 802.1x authentication. The embedded SIM reader is provided with a related API interface (PC SC-driver). Access modes supported include Infrastructure and Ad-hoc.

Installation of the PC Card and bundled software was straightforward - it took us less than 15 minutes to open the box, register the USIM card (requires a phone call), load the software, plug in the PC Card and access the Internet. You can then control connection sessions from the Business Everywhere application, which displays the network you’re using, your connection status, 3G/GPRS signal strength, five application buttons (Internet, Text messaging, Internet e-mail, Instant messaging, Office). There’s even a connection duration indicator, as well as indicators to show whether your connection is via 3G or GPRS - two LEDs on card itself glow blue for 3G, red for GPRS and green for Wi-Fi.

In our tests the Option GlobeTrotter Fusion performed well, allowing us to connect easily 3G, GPRS and Wi-Fi networks. Although Orange’s 3G data service supports a maximum download speed of 384Kbit/s, we experienced download speeds as low as 90Kbit/s and as high as 320Kbit/s. We never got the full 384Kbit/s, even with the add-on antenna, largely due to our office being in the middle of a remote village (distance from a base station will affect speed). It’s also worth remembering that 3G, just like DSL, is a contended service with bandwidth shared among all the users in a particular cell. When testing GPRS, we achieved anything from 26.8Kbit/s upstream up to 53.6Kit/s downstream.

The only niggles we had with the card is that you can lose data transmission if it automatically switches from 3G to GPRS, but thankfully you can set it to GPRS only. We also found the Business Everywhere application frustrating in the way that if you want to switch between an Internet session and text messaging, for example, you have to disconnect and reconnect via the relevant application button. The same goes for the Internet e-mail, Instant messaging and Office application buttons, which is crazy given that once connected to the Internet you should be able to access SMS, e-mail, IM and VPN clients in the normal way.

The last factor to consider is pricing, which Orange charges as a 12-month contract. The cheapest option is ‘Mobile Office pay as you consume’ which costs £2 per MB, along with the card at £255. Next up is Mobile Office 7, which costs £10 per month and gives you a monthly data traffic allowance of 7MB. You’ll also have to buy the card for £170. The next option is Mobile Office 65, which gives you 65MB data and costs £20 per month (the cost of the card is reduced to £128). Finally, for heavy users, Mobile Office Max 05 offers 1000MB of monthly data (subject to fair usage policy) and costs £45 every month. If you go for this tariff, the card will cost just £85.

Orange says it won’t automatically charge you for exceeding this limit, but your Account Manager will contact you if you exceed it over a period of time. To put all these numbers into perspective, 1MB is approximately equal to 200 text e-mails (100 words), 30 e-mails with 1-page Word attachment, and 25 Internet pages (quantity varies by size). You can benefit from flat rate charges for international roaming, whichever partner network you are using and country you are in. You will also only pay for the data you have used with no minimum session charge and payment in KB increments. We can’t believe there’s still no Unlimited option. [8]

[Best Mobile Phone Pricing UK]
[Best Mobile Phone Pricing US]

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