MWC: Sierra announces '4G' wireless hotspot devices

WIRELESS HARDWARE MAKER Sierra Wireless' Aircards 753S and 754S are its latest additions to its range of mobile broadband devices. Both devices are scheduled for shipment to currently unknown partners sometime in the second quarter.

Although Sierra calls both cards 4G devices, it is more than questionable as to whether this statement is entirely true.

The 754S uses a LTE network capable of download speeds of up to 100Mbps and upload of 50Mbps. This is widely regarded as being 4G speed, but if it's not LTE Advanced, then it's not 4G according to the ITU.

Furthermore, the 753S uses an alternative and slower dual-carrier HSPA+ network offering speeds of 42Mbps download and 5.76Mbps upload, which doesn't even match the speed of an LTE network and is not considered 4G by the ITU.

With such a deadline looming there are still a lot of unknowns about the devices, which Dan Schieler of Sierra couldn't answer. These include the price, when the products will be available for purchase, which retailers will sell the products, battery life and whether the Aircards will support IPv6.

What we do know is that both devices are pocket sized, likened to a pack of cards, lightweight and easy to use, with no need for any additional software. A small LCD display provides key information such as WiFi access, signal strength and battery life. There are no plans to make them touchscreen devices but they can be controlled with buttons or by way of a simple web interface.

Capable of supporting up to five WiFi devices at once, the Aircards are great for setting up a small hub whether at home, on holiday or virtually anywhere. Dan Schieler, SVP of mobile computing for Sierra said, "When you combine a mobile hotspot with 4G speeds, you get a very flexible and useful device that can serve multiple needs." µ