Hewlett-Packard, of all people, has stepped up with a solution. HP DataPass is a prepaid mobile broadband offering that lets you buy connectivity by the day and the megabyte. There’s a 14-day free trial, but regular plans range from $5 for 75MB over 5 hours (yes, that’s hours) to $30 for a gigabyte over 30 days. Not a great deal for regular 3G users, but with no contracts or set-up fees, it’s fabulous for the vast majority of folks who occasionally need mobile broadband.
Of course, you do need an HP Notebook PC with a un2400 series mobile broadband module, which is no doubt why HP introduced the service in the first place. And it’s also probably why the DataPass announcement was accompanied by a slew of new HP ultraportables that just happen to include that hardware.
The new units include the 3.9-pound ProBook 5330m designed to incorporate “consumer” features into a business notebook. Consumer touches include “Beats” audio, which HP says improves presentations as well as music, and a backlit keyboard -– good for working in darkened cafes. The two-tone aluminum/magnesium case also tries to be more stylish than the typical business notebook.
At the same time, though, the ProBook 5330m incorporates key business features, including optional Intel vPro management technology and security features like fingerprint readers.
