RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. and ATLANTA, August 16, 2006 – Lenovo and Cingular Wireless today announced that the ThinkPad T60 notebook, the first Lenovo PC in the U.S. to feature built-in Cingular UMTS/HSDPA-based technology, is now available to business users across America.
With the Cingular-enabled ThinkPad T60, users in the U.S. now can have mobile broadband access in more than 60 U.S. cities and towns in which Cingular’s UMTS/HSDPA-based BroadbandConnect service has been launched with seamless high-speed EDGE network coverage outside those areas. While abroad, Lenovo customers can use their ThinkPad T60 notebooks wirelessly in conjunction with EDGE or GPRS data services in more than 100 countries worldwide.
“ThinkPad users can now enjoy wireless broadband Internet access via the Cingular BroadbandConnect service without needing a separate PC card or additional hardware,” said Scott Smith, president, Lenovo Americas. “The combination of Cingular’s technology and our ThinkVantage Technologies that simplify the connectivity process gives on-the-go users the ultimate portability with a punch.”
“The ThinkPad T60 with Cingular BroadbandConnect service gives Lenovo customers global wireless capabilities out of the box,” said Jeff Bradley, vice president, business data services, for Cingular Wireless. “The combined Lenovo/Cingular solution is a powerful communications tool that provides customers with seamless, high-speed mobile access to important information whether they are across the street, on the other side of the U.S. or halfway around the world.”
The ThinkPad T60 measures an inch thin with a travel weight of 4.8 lbs., giving it newfound power and performance in a thin-and-light form factor. For mobile users, the ThinkPad T60 series includes a more durable system design, coupling the ThinkPad Roll Cage – an inner armor chassis – with its airbag-like Active Protection System and ThinkPad shock-mounted hard drive. Users can capitalize on the Cingular service using Access Connections, a ThinkVantage Technology that comes equipped on ThinkPad notebooks and helps mobile users automatically adjust wireless capabilities to reduce costly help desk calls for assistance regarding IP settings, defining default printers and accessing wireless networks.
ThinkPad T60 users can access Cingular’s critically acclaimed BroadbandConnect service in more than 60 communities nearby the major markets of Atlanta, Austin (TX), Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Gary (Ind.), Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland (Ore.), Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (Calif.), San Antonio, Seattle, Tacoma (Wash.), Tucson and Washington, D.C. Cingular plans to expand its BroadbandConnect coverage area to most major markets by the end of 2006.
BroadbandConnect uses UMTS/HSDPA technology – the global standard and natural 3G evolutionary path for GSM providers – UMTS services are already offered by 95 commercial networks in 45 countries, with an additional 67 UMTS networks in deployment, planned or licensed. In the U.S., it provides average download speeds between 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), with bursts to more than one megabit per second (mbps). Cingular’s EDGE network, the largest national high-speed wireless data network in the U.S., provides average download speeds of up to 135kbps.
The notebooks will ship with Cingular Communication Manager pre-loaded. Cingular Communication Manager is an easy-to-use software package that allows users to effortlessly establish connections with Cingular’s BroadbandConnect and EDGE services from their notebooks.
The ThinkPad T60 is available immediately at www.lenovo.com/cingular and through select business partners. ThinkPad T60 customers can activate Cingular’s BroadbandConnect service directly from Lenovo and will be billed monthly by Cingular. Unlimited monthly BroadbandConnect service is $59.99 per month with a two-year contract and qualified voice contract.
About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 57.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation – the ALLOVER™ network – and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(r), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com/ . Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at cingular.mediaroom.com/ .
About Lenovo Group Ltd. Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building the world’s most innovative personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information about Lenovo, see www.lenovo.com .
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