Vodafone and Huawei launch 3G USB stick

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Vodafone has partnered with Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei to create a USB 3G modem the size of a flash drive, but still capable of accessing HSUPA mobile data networks.

The mobile broadband USB modem stick, the Huawei E172, is Vodafone's smallest ever plug-and-play device and significantly smaller than any previous data card or 3G modem it has offered. It is compatible with Windows (Vista and XP) as well as Mac OS X.

Vodafone will offer the stick alongside its existing, E220 USB modem which was released last year. "They are exactly the same inside," said Vodafone spokeswoman Bryony Clow. "It's just that the E172 has a smaller form factor. We are looking to sell both as the different forms will appeal to different people. We'll be pushing the stick, but the modem will be available as well."

The E172 supports uplink speeds of up to 1.44Mb/sec and download rates of 7.2 Mb/sec, which they claim is theoretically 14 times the speed of standard 3G. However, the 7.2Mb service is currently only supported within Central London and at certain UK airports. This will increase as Vodafone continues the rollout of HSUPA to the rest of its 3G network.

"Vodafone was the first to improve download speeds with HSPDA, the first to increase upload speeds with HSPUA. And now we're pushing the boundaries of usability even further with a compact modem design," said Kyle Whitehill, enterprise director at Vodafone.

The mobile broadband market is getting more competitive, with network operators cutting prices and adding value to service plans to entice both consumer and business customers. Last week IT PRO reported that Carphone Warehouse and mobile network 3 had joined forces to offer a £35-a-month bundle comprising a mobile broadband service, bundled text messages and a Dell laptop.

The E172 modem is available now.

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