Sony Ericsson pops out MD400 / MD400g HSPA USB modems

In case you couldn't tell, Sony's getting down at CommunicAsia. Next up from Singapore is a fresh pair of HSPA USB modems, the MD400 and GPS-packin' MD400g. Both sticks pull double duty as a M2 / microSD card reader, but it's not like we haven't seen that functionality tossed into similar units already. Nevertheless, these buggers support 7.2Mb/s download and 2.0M/bs upload speeds and feature a swiveling antenna to complement the built-in one, a retractable USB connector and compatibility with Windows and OS X-based machines. SE tells us that the currently unpriced duo will be available worldwide in Q4, with the biggest decision to come when choosing between Exquisite Ebony and Lustrous White.

Gallery: Sony Ericsson pops out MD400 / MD400g HSPA USB modems

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[Astrostream @ Jun 17th 2008 9:28AM]

Does is work with the iPhone?

[lilo @ Jun 17th 2008 11:15AM]

No, it replaces iPhone :-)

[Astrostream @ Jun 17th 2008 11:24AM]

@lilo,
Hmmmm, I didn't know that this thing is a cell phone!!

[happy_penguin @ Jun 17th 2008 11:42AM]

Lamer.

[Wwhat @ Jun 17th 2008 1:09PM]

Stick it in your mac air and use it as a very large cellphone, but watch out you don't cut your ear off

[Poozle @ Jun 17th 2008 9:31AM]

They look very nice and all but is there any benefit of this over a generic unit provided by companies when you sign up for a mobile broadband plan.

[david @ Jun 17th 2008 9:38AM]

The price of this unit could lower and you should not have to sign the contract. If it is cheaper than the vodafone modems I could buy one.

[Poozle @ Jun 17th 2008 10:02AM]

Well, I'd be surprised if this was less than £40 (the price I can get a 3 Modem in the UK) but yeah, that would be about the only benefit and I would definitely get one of these if they were the same price.

[Daza @ Jun 17th 2008 11:05AM]

Probably no benefit, but it's always good to have more devices in the market. It will boost competition and ultimately drive the price of all devices down (hopefully). They may also just ship thousands of these things to networks and they may be bundled up with HSDPA deals.

[david @ Jun 17th 2008 12:16PM]

Am... I would not agree with a price thing. Just look at netbook market, the competition made everything worse, now most of them cost as standard laptop expect a few of them.

[Wwhat @ Jun 17th 2008 1:10PM]

It's sony, perhaps it comes with a free rootkit that disables all music playback on your notebook! there's your value added.

[MattyG @ Jun 17th 2008 11:13AM]

no linux support?

dam that'd suck

[Demodave @ Jun 17th 2008 11:47AM]

Integrated GPS? Cool!!

[hiimcliff @ Jun 17th 2008 2:08PM]

ill definitely pick up the gps one. what bands will this baby have? im definitely tired of waiting for tmobile to drop something similar. i might have to consider leaving for the devil (at&t).

[Sebastian @ Jun 17th 2008 2:27PM]

Great stuff! Only issue: I would need to have them in a week... Any ideas what to buy now (no, don't want to sign-up for a data plan here in the US right now, need it for oversea's travel). Thanks!

[Mark M @ Jun 17th 2008 5:25PM]

Tri-band? Tri-band?? Tri-band??? TRI-BAND???? Hello, any reporters there with brain-cells functioning???

[Haro! @ Jun 17th 2008 7:29PM]

I would so get this but I'm not really sure how they work (an explanation would be great ^_^ ), are these sorts of modems tied to carriers? I am also assuming I'd have to have a separate plan for this device as well? Still I'd say its worth it in that I'd get internet just about anywhere and it looks quite cool.

[nikster @ Jun 19th 2008 2:05AM]

You can buy the card but obviously need a plan to access the network. I imagine they have a SIM card inside just like a mobile phone. They'll probably be offered subsidized with plan in the US.
In Europe there are pretty attractive pay-as-you-go 3G data plans - you just buy a certain number of GB for a certain price and that's it. In a market economy that model would certainly win but in the U.S. hegemony of carriers it might take a while. Needless to say, I am a big fan of pay as you go plans... it's so easy, I can just go to Europe, walk into any mobile store, purchase a SIM for like $5 and get a to-go data plan for a fair price, fill it up when I run out, etc. Simple, easy, no 2 year commitments.

[iqbal @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:55PM]

hope better than GC-75/79/83/ PC300, weak signal & get hang in few hours :(