Lenovo has unveiled an Android-based ThinkPad Tablet, featuring Ericsson’s F5521gw embedded HSPA+ mobile broadband module that enables peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5.8 Mbps. ThinkPad Tablet is aimed at the business users, meeting their demands for cloud services and mobile broadband connectivity. The device will be available in the fourth quarter of 2011. Lenovo has been using Ericsson’s HSPA modules for its ThinkPad laptops since 2008.

Lenovo’s Android-based ThinkPad Tablet – featuring Ericsson’s (NASDAQ: ERIC) F5521gw embedded HSPA Evolution mobile broadband module – offers users the fastest mobile broadband experience available for devices of this type. With download speeds of up to 21Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5.8Mbps, even a few spare minutes can be put to good use. This means that the days when waiting time equated to wasting time will soon be just a distant memory. Business people can now be productive while being at the airport thanks to the launch of an ultra-portable product that provides a mobile connection to the Internet, company business systems and e-mail accounts. And consumers can use any spare time they have to chat or quickly login to social network sites.

"Our ThinkPad Tablet gives mobile professionals the first real business-focused tablet that keeps them productive while protecting their data and managing their device," says Tom Butler, director, Worldwide ThinkPad Marketing, Lenovo. "We have incorporated Ericsson’s F5521gw module into our 3G model to give the users an incredibly fast mobile broadband connection along with other benefits, like cost-effectiveness, low power consumption and long battery life."
With consumers keen to stay constantly connected and the availability of open source operating systems such as Android, cloud services are not only here to stay but are also encouraging people to connect more and more devices, such as laptops, e-book readers, media players and tablets. The market for tablets is expected to grow rapidly over the coming years and it is likely that the majority of those tablets will incorporate an embedded mobile broadband module.
Mats Norin, Vice President, Ericsson Mobile Broadband Modules, says: "We see a clear trend suggesting that devices will soon be considered useless if they cannot be connected. Research carried out by Ericsson ConsumerLab shows that, regardless of the device they are using, people are increasingly discovering how difficult life is when they are not continuously connected to the cloud. Therefore, we foresee long-term growth for embedded connectivity in mass-market notebooks, netbooks, tablets and other consumer electronics."

Lenovo has been using Ericsson’s HSPA modules for models of its ThinkPad laptops since 2008. Now, thanks to the F5521gw module, launched in September 2010, Lenovo will launch its 3G ThinkPad Tablet with the market’s fastest mobile broadband connection. The 3G model of the ThinkPad Tablet will be available in 4Q 2011.

The module is the size of a PCI Express Mini Card, which is a standardized form factor in the PC industry. It will also be available in a smaller, thinner format, as well as a half-size version of a PCI Express Mini Card in October this year. These versions will fit inside smaller devices, such as media players and personal navigation devices. All three versions of the module are based on ST-Ericsson-proven Thor 21Mbps thin modems, which work on both WCDMA/HSPA and GSM/EDGE networks.

Ericsson is the world’s leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company’s portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.
Ericsson is advancing its vision of being the “prime driver in an all-communicating world” through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 90,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 203.3 billion (USD 28.2 billion) in 2010. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.