Lenovo launches GPS-enabled laptops for SMB market

25 Jul 2008

The new generation of Lenovo laptops is dedicated to the small and medium business (SMB) market featuring a GPS embedded into a broadband connectivity module from Ericsson. The SL series notebooks start at $799 and are available immediately with an AT&T broadband trial SIM card in the US.

While looking forward to contracts of this sort in other countries, Lenovo ships these laptops with a built-in Vodafone 3G connection. The first models in the UK to be released with the Ericsson modules will be part of the Thinkpad SL, T and X series. A free 30-day trial will be given to costumers before they will need to pay a monthly charge by subscription. However the GPS functionality works independently from a network connection.

Being the fourth worldwide provide of PC, Lenovo invested in a growing market. According to market research firm IDC, the SMB segment will command 31 percent of the total notebook (including ultraportables) PC market worldwide in 2009 and will grow to 76.6 million in 2011.