Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, manufacturer of durable, reliable Panasonic® Toughbook® mobile computers, and AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), today announced the certification and availability of two rugged computers, the Toughbook 30 notebook and the Toughbook 19 convertible tablet, on the UMTS/HSDPA-based 3G AT&T BroadbandConnect data network.
In addition, the companies will make it more convenient for customers to purchase Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers and AT&T services through an expanded marketing and sales relationship targeted at key vertical industries and applications, including utilities, transportation, manufacturing field service and public safety.
Panasonic and AT&T have offered built-in access to wide area wireless data networks (WWAN) for more than a decade and have jointly delivered embedded 3G wireless solutions since 2005. The result of this close collaboration is reliable high-performance mobile data solutions for customers in a variety of commercial and government applications.
AT&T-certified Toughbook notebooks provide users with mobile broadband access in more than 165 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. Users have global wireless data capabilities through access to UMTS/HSDPA, and they have EDGE or GPRS data service in more than 135 countries through competitive international data plans from AT&T. In the U.S., Toughbook notebook users will have mobile access to AT&T’s 3G BroadbandConnect and EDGE networks in more than 13,000 cities and towns.
These technological advances will be supported by a renewed co-marketing commitment from both companies in which their joint activities will be more tightly integrated to create an enhanced one-stop shopping experience for customers. These include a variety of direct marketing, advertising and events-based activities. For example, AT&T was a Platinum Sponsor of the Panasonic 21st Century Mobile Solutions in Government, Law Enforcement, Fire & EMS Conference, which was held Sept. 13–14, 2007, in Orlando, Fla. The companies also plan to feature interoperability demonstrations at IACP 2007, Utilities Field Service 2007 and EyeforTransport Wireless in Trucking 2008, among others.
“For more than a decade, Panasonic and AT&T have been at the forefront of delivering mobile computing solutions for anytime, anywhere access to mission-critical information,” said Victoria Obenshain, director of strategic wireless, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. “With the Novatel Wireless Expedite EU860 module built into rugged, long-lasting Toughbook notebooks, users gain a high-performance 3G solution from AT&T with significant return on investment and lower total cost of ownership.”
“Built-in access to BroadbandConnect epitomizes freedom, simplicity and reliability in a mobile broadband environment,” said Laura Johnson, executive director, Enterprise Solutions, AT&T. “With the certification of these fully rugged Panasonic Toughbook notebooks, AT&T's enterprise and government customers can now deploy wireless 3G-based solutions for those in the most demanding environments where information access is truly mission-critical.”
Built-in Wireless for Optimal Performance
All Toughbook notebooks are engineered to provide optimal connectivity for maximum productivity. By embedding, or building-in mobile broadband access, Panasonic delivers a reliable and higher-performing solution, especially in remote locations. In addition to providing embedded access to next-generation cellular networks, rugged Toughbook computers incorporate the Intel Centrino chipset for seamless connectivity to local networks, optional integrated GPS and Bluetooth technology.
Pricing and Availability
Rugged Toughbook notebooks with built-in access to AT&T’s 3G BroadbandConnect service are available now at an estimated street price starting at $3,799.00 (Toughbook 19 convertible tablet) and $3,899.00 (Toughbook 30 notebook).-Panasonic
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