Sprint Brings 3G And 4G WiMAX Support To Lenovo ThinkPad Line

Is there anything better than bringing home a new ThinkPad? Is there anything better than mobile broadband? We guess the answer is yes in both circumstances, as now you can get a Lenovo ThinkPad with both 3G and 4G support. Announced this week during America's largest wireless trade show, the ThinkPad is gaining 3G and 4G support courtesy of Sprint, which is the only cell carrier in America that currently offers both 3G and WiMAX.

We also learned this week that Sprint's 4G services are soon expanding to dozens more cities across the country, and given that ThinkPad notebooks are generally used in business, we're sure that road warriors who stay in touch with their office while traveling will appreciate having both 3G and 4G access onboard.

What's great is how seamless the changeovers are. The machines come with a SIM card installed, and Lenovo's Access Connection tool helps users easily connect to the wireless network and is the only tool available from a PC maker that can manage both 3G and 4G network connections. No specific machines are mentioned, but we're guessing that the support will be rolled out across the line soon.

Lenovo and Sprint Add 3G and 4G Mobile Broadband Connectivity to ThinkPad Laptops

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Mar 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lenovo today announced support for Sprint 3G and 4G wireless connectivity in the U.S. across Lenovo's line of ThinkPad laptops. All of Lenovo's ThinkPad laptop models are 3G-enabled, and Lenovo offers the largest selection of 4G-enabled laptop models, including the recently introduced ThinkPad Edge laptops built for small to medium businesses.

"Adding Sprint to our network of supported carriers gives customers even more 3G choice and expanded connectivity points with the fast speeds of Sprint 4G," said Dilip Bhatia, executive director, ThinkPad Product Marketing, Lenovo. "Demand for constant, fast wireless technology has become an expectation, and it's now mission critical for doing business today."

ABI Research predicts there will be 2.5 billion connected data-centric devices worldwide in 2014. For business customers, wireless technology has grown increasingly important, requiring more bandwidth for live streaming video, on-demand applications and virtual meetings. Sprint is building out its 4G capabilities to meet the next generation's data needs with service already available in 27 markets across the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle. Newly announced markets that will see 4G in 2010 are Cincinnati, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and St. Louis. Earlier this year Sprint also announced that it plans to launch 4G in Boston, Denver, Kansas City, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., in 2010.

"Our business is about powering businesses through voice and data solutions, now and into the future," said Danny Bowman, president, Integrated Solutions, Sprint. "It's more than just the quality of the network though. It's about having a broad range of devices that are certified to operate optimally on Sprint's Now Network, and adding a trusted brand like Lenovo ThinkPad laptops gives businesses an unparalleled technology solution."

Lenovo makes connecting to Sprint 3G and 4G simple. The laptop comes with a SIM card already installed. Lenovo's Access Connection tool helps users easily connect to the wireless network and is the only tool available from a PC maker that can manage both 3G and 4G network connections(1).