The M Files

By Lee Lup Yuen

A look inside enterprise mobility

Your mobile broadband dream comes true with 3.5G

Posted in The M Files by Lee Lup Yuen on 2007/12/28 10:05:20

I have been using the Sony Ericsson PC300 HSDPA (3.5G) Data Card for over a month now, and I'm absolutely delighted with the mobile broadband experience that HSDPA offers.

My mobile operator provided the HSDPA data card free of charge when I upgraded my mobile data subscription plan.

The Sony Ericsson HSDPA card doesn't protrude as much as other HSDPA cards with their bulging antennas. I find it more compact than USB-based HSDPA modems that dangle around your laptop. So I'm able to leave the HSDPA card plugged inside my laptop permanently without fear of damaging it when I pack my laptop into my bag.

HSDPA coverage is good in most parts of Singapore. It works great for sending and receiving e-mail with huge attachments, a process which was painfully slow with my old Merlin 3G card. HSDPA is also perfectly adequate for browsing most Web sites, even YouTube. I was able to download videos from YouTube at a peak of 1.7Mbps, and upload large documents to Google Docs at about 580Kbps.

HSDPA is a dream come true for us mobile warriors--working anytime anywhere at broadband speeds. So why not upgrade yourself to 3.5G for the coming new year? Have a Great New Year!

Front of the Sony Ericsson PC300 HSDPA card

Back of the HSDPA card, where you slot in your SIM card

The HSDPA card protrudes slightly

When you see the "H" icon, it means you're all set to blaze your way through the HSDPA highway.

Downloading a video from YouTube at 1.7Mbps

Uploading a large file to Google Docs at 584Kbps

Disclaimer:
Views and opinions expressed in this blog are the author's, and do not necessarily represent those of ZDNet Asia.

Talkback 4 comments

Your mobile broadband dream comes true with 3.5G
It doesn't work in the MRT.
Posted by anonymous on Tuesday, February 19 2008 09:15 AM

Your mobile broadband dream comes true with 3.5G
Hello, nothing works when you are in the MRT tunnel!!!!!!
Posted by anonymous on Thursday, February 28 2008 03:24 PM

Where to find the antenna
I just got one, but the signal strength is so low...!!!

Maybe an antenna will help, but the manual said GCA-14 which is not available anywhere in Singapore for my search. Anyone knows where to get one?

Author: Which part of Singapore you tested it? I used it in whampoa, horrible speed.
Posted by Ideasmiths on Friday, March 21 2008 10:29 AM

Your mobile broadband dream comes true with 3.5G
I stay in whampoa, that is why the speed is terrible.

I tried in Toa Payoh Fork and Spoon, worst

I tried at office, Singapore Post Center, better

I tried at Suntec, good

I emailed Sony Ericsson, apparently they don't even bother to answer their email
Posted by Ideasmiths on Saturday, April 12 2008 01:14 PM

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About the blogger

Lee Lup Yuen

Lee Lup Yuen is passionate about mobile phones and PDAs, as he is constantly buying new gadgets and programming them in J2ME, .NET, Symbian and AppForge. He has developed commercial applications with mobile technologies like SMS, MMS, WAP, 3G video streaming and location-based services.