A couple of ideal examples for this fact are the mobile phones – T-Mobile/Google G1 and Apple iPhone that use traditional as well as 3G wireless data technologies. Alongside, 3G networks are harnessed by wireless firms to cater for the users of portable computers.

Likewise, a good medium to connect the consumers to wireless internet without the help of a wireless hotspot or access point is a wireless card (wireless internet card) that is quite similar to the home wireless broadband network access service.

Although, many major mobile broadband/mobile phone customers have launched competing products in the market with promises of good connection speeds and users’ convenience, T-Mobile is one player that offers its service through a card developed by Sony Ericsson.

T-Mobile Sony Ericsson GC89 wireless card functions similar to a wireless home network card, as it slides on to the laptop’s NIC slot and gets connected to the computer through its leads. A third of the wireless card protrudes from the laptop to receive signal enacting an antenna.

The card as well as the antenna facilitate the link between the computer and the web server as the connection is made. T-Mobile wireless card uses both EDGE and GPRS standards where traditional wireless service is not available. The card is compatible with a few interfaces – Windows Vista, XP and 2000.

The card when on EDGE mode facilitates download speeds of up to 247 kbps despite EDGE data standard being capable of delivering speeds of between 700 to 1200 Kbps. When connected using GPRS the card supports speeds of 86Kbps for downstream and 43 Kbps for upstream.

The consumer groups; Communications Consumer Panel and Consumer Focus, have urged the Brussels commissioner for competition, in a joint letter, to approve an official probe into the matter. As a matter of fact, the move from the part of the groups was inspired by some comments on the context published in Which?, the consumer body. The comments said that the proposed merger made a deep look at the state of the mobile broadband internet market of the UK a necessity.

The letter contained issues such as the adverse effects inflicted on the 3G mobile networks by an absence of competitive innovation, the allocation of the spectrum and the potentially big chunk of spectrum, the new entity could run away with. The letter also include concerns on the negative impact that the merger could have on the virtual mobile broadband network operators of the United Kingdom that did not possess their own networks, instead leased capacity from the network operators for providing services.

It is also apparent that CCP and Consumer focus are hoping for British authorities to exercise control over the decision of the entities to merge. The control rights currently vest with Brussels. When the control rights are repatriated to the authorities in the UK, it would forward the decision and the investigations surrounding it, over to the Competition Commission and the Office of Fair Trading.

This has been revealed by the mobile broadband supplier that has been in the news for some time now for its merging operations with Orange, another mobile broadband giant in the United Kingdom. According to the mobile broadband ISP, it was working with e-Learning Foundation to enhance broadband internet services for the Cheshire school pupils.

It has also been reported that the pair were working as a team to ensure the opportunity of enjoying internet access, to the students at Warrington’s Alderman Bolton Primary School.

Meanwhile, the technology website PublicTechnology reported that a mobile broadband trial scheme trial was being carried out in the area, according to which those people without a home internet connection would be provided with mobile broadband dongles of the UK ISP.

According to T-Mobile’s national public sector manager for sales, Stuart Taylor, the mobile broadband provider could help reach the benefits of access to broadband internet to all students regardless of their social or economic situation. He added that the ISP also enabled students to enjoy internet access, which could be used in an array of situations and locations via the mobile broadband high speed service.

The new broadband laptop bundle packages offered by T-Mobile comes as part of its mobile broadband deals, according to the mobile broadband provider that is all set to merge its UK as operations with that of Orange UK, arguably to form the largest mobile broadband provider in the United Kingdom.

The mobile broadband supplier has announced a couple of laptop models; Compaq Presario CQ61-305SA laptop and Samsong N130 laptop that would be bundled by it with its 24-month contract mobile broadband packages.

Alongside, the customers can also opt for the Compaq Presario CQ61-305SA for a monthly charge of GBP 30. This package also accommodates a data download allowance of 5GB. This laptop comes with a 160GB hard drive, an integrated DVD player and a 15.6 inch display screen.

It is also worth mentioning here that the launch of a fresh array of mobile broadband gift packs were announced by T-Mobile, earlier this year. These mobile broadband gift packs carry importance for their offering savings of more than 25 per cent compared to pay per day broadband bundles.

The fresh deals of T-Mobile are available in 3 month or 12-month mobile broadband packages. These packages offer unlimited broadband internet browsing and a mobile broadband dongle for a single payment.

The owners of the mobile operators Orange UK and T-Mobile, France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom had recently struck an agreement to merge their operations in the United Kingdom into a joint venture firm under 50:50 share basis. The merger also implies that the new entity will own a total radio spectrum of 170MHz.

The move is believed to irk many companies and other bodies; especially the telecommunications regulator of the United Kingdom, Ofcom. It is perceived that the regulator would not be pleased with fact that the entity formed as the result of the merger would own around 37 per cent of the UK market and more than half of the radio spectrum available. The matter could get more heated up owing to a suggestion made in the report of the ISP (Independent Spectrum Broker) prior to the merger that the ownership of the spectrum should be capped at 120MHz.

On the other side, the two mobile broadband operators have also received an impetus from the OFT (Office of Fair Trading) for the completion of the deal, as the latter has already hinted it would not force a competition review on the merger. However, Ofcom seems to be determined not to allow any consumer harm that could include the forced relinquishment of some spectrum.