Sierra reckons embedded is way to go

EMBED A 3G WIRELESS data capability inside a laptop or offer it as an after-market add on via USB? That's the dilemma facing 3G specialists like Sierra Wireless.

However, Larry Zibrik, a director with Sierra, reckons that the future lies with embedded. Sierra already offers laptop manufacturers a range of eight different data modules most of which come in a PCI Express Mini card format.

One of the Sierra product range's advantages is that the company can offer both HSDPA/W-CDMA or Cdma2000 Ev-Do Rev A modules in the same physical format. So its products are effectively 3G agnostic.

Zibrik reckons that around 1.5 million embedded 3G products were sold in 2007 and Sierra had roughly half of all those sales. He believes the figure for 2008 will rise to something like two or three million units but that will still only represent an attach rate of something like three per cent of all laptops.

Sierra isn't just targeting laptop manufacturers, though. It also sells to numerous specialist segments. These include router suppliers (including Cisco) who put 3G backup cards inside their products to cater for instances where there are fixed line failures.

The niche which the INQ particularly liked was a vendor of 3G compatible wireless payment systems. These are designed to allow credit and debit card payments to be made anywhere.

The snag is that if such systems are stolen, they would still possess a valid link into the banking system. So the vendor utilises the fact that Sierra's embedded cards have GPS built-in.

If the unit is stolen and subsequently power up in a different location, it basically self-destructs.

To back up all of this embedded bravado, Sierra has just launched two new embedded modules – the MC8790 and the MC8790V (with voice).

So while Sierra's rivals may continue to focus of USB 3G cards, Sierra reckons it has a market advantage in offering a complete range – both USB and embedded. µ