Integrated 3G Tested on Viliv S5, X70 UMPCs
I have been testing the integrated 3G capability of both the Viliv S5 3G and the X70EX 3G UMPCs and can report they both work as expected. I was able to pull the AT&T SIM out of the iPhone 3G and pop it into each UMPC in turn. The configuration was simple using the Mobile Partner utility that ships preinstalled on both units.
Using the 3G is as simple as pushing the Connect button in Mobile Partner after making sure it recognized the presence of the SIM card. You can see the SIM card information in the lower left of the Mobile Partner window:
Note that even though it’s showing as WCDMA, it’s not really — it’s HSDPA. I have run a lot of speed tests using the AT&T data network and found it to be about what I would expect speed-wise. This test was run in Mobile Tech Manor:
I also ran a speed test in my office using the Verizon MiFi to connect to the X70 for comparison purposes. Note that my office only gets two bars of signal from Verizon:
You can see the integrated 3G works as advertised on both the Viliv S5 and the X70EX. I prefer the simplicity of using the MiFi over Wi-Fi, but to each his own.
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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‘…even though it’s showing as WCDMA, it’s not really — it’s HSDPA.’
Isn’t HSDPA a form of W-CDMA? The UMTS system, which uses wideband CDMA (=W-DMA), has been through a number of refinements. HSDPA is one, HSUPA is another, and not far away is HSPA+, but they’re all using WCDMA to the best of my knowledge.
You know I have been following your reviews on these devices. They are nice devices, but seem to have a lot of compromises. For example the set up og the X70 with the keyboard and the mouse, it seems that I have to carry too many pieces. You also have pointed out to re-start time.
How would you compare to the HTC shift?? would it fall under the same category?.
The shift seems to have put together a nice packages, why would vendors not pursue that hardware approach and maybe combined with like a 2nd Os ( Windows Mobile).
Maybe I am missing the point on these devices.
I tested the Shift and didn’t like it, the performance was horrible and the keyboard too small to use comfortably.
The X70 can be used easily with no keyboard or mouse so I don’t carry those with me all the time.
Please let me know if its possible to run windows 7 on this thing. Do you think it will compromize the performance if I stall windows 7 on mine? I just like to be up to date. I mean windows xp? Come on, thats old stuffs. Or maybe Android???
Win7 will run fine on this although I haven’t tried it. The big question is if all the drivers are available.
James…Do you think using the iPhone SIM will void your contract?
It could. I’ve only done it a couple of times to be safe but my research on the web shows a lot of folks who do this all the time and they’ve never had any problem with AT&T.
JK, are you going to test whether it works with T-Mobile’
s EDGE?
James,
is the sim card slot on the X70 easily accessible so you don’t have to shut down and reboot just to pop the card in and out? what about on the S5?
thanks!
The slot is under the battery so you must shut down or plug in. Same for the S5.
bummer. is the 3G modem voice capable?
For the s5, its not voice capable, but u can send text. not sure about the x70.
what kind of at&t 3g plan do i need??
there are 3 differents plans such as blackberry, pda, and laptop..
also, is there limited for download?? i think 5gb.
As what I knew, AT&T also offers the voice plan plus extra $15/per month for the unlimited data plan if the phone you are using was neither blackberry nor pda, but has the 3G capable. Just don’t know if I can put that SIM card in the X70 for the unlimited 3G data access ??
When you say configure it, do you mean you manually went in and put the AT&T connection settings? Or they were already there?
I can’t seem to get it working… setting everything up manually (via Tools->Options->Profiles) results in a connection that seems to work, except the most I can do is ping… and that times out half the time…
Any ideas?
I had to manually input everything.