Cellular modem sales to top $22bn

Cellular modem sales are set to top $22 billion by 2013, reports Market Watch.

ABI Research principal analyst Dan Shey says: "Customers want mobile broadband experiences like those provided by their PCs, meaning they want the fastest devices. Phones with at least 3G radios threaten cellular modem sales; however shipments of these modems will not exceed 30% of cellular handset shipments by 2011."

An analysis is seeing a growing penetration of embedded cellular connectivity in laptops and notebooks, which will reduce the need for external devices, according to Shey.

Agito Networks has released a cellular wireless LAN convergence appliance, says Network World.

The optional Secure Remote Voice feature lets the enterprise secure voice calls over WiFi connections outside the office, by telecommuters with a wireless router at home, or on-the-road employees using a hotel or caf'e hotspot.

The Agito client now sets up an SSL tunnel to the office-based RoamAnywhere Mobility Router and the company firewall treats the incoming call as a standard entrant via port 443, according to Agito.

A marketing agreement has been revealed that includes a free, 30-day trial of the Napster To Go service to US Cellular customers who purchase the new HTC Touch mobile handset, says Market Watch.

Napster and US Cellular will partner on promotional efforts for music-to-handset sideloading, which makes it easy for consumers to experience the Napster To Go subscription service, and enables them to access Napster's catalogue of more than six million songs, and exclusive content.

Brad Duea, president of Napster, says: "We are very pleased to expand this relationship, which supports our focus on driving adoption of our subscription model by partnering with leading carriers and joining to music-enabled cellphones."