MD400g - Sony Ericsson's New Mobile Internet USB Modem With Built-in GPS

An interesting little product caught my imagination today - it is the new mobile Internet stick by Rogers called the MD400g available on their 3.5G network and made by Sony Ericsson. What is different about this Internet stick is that it has a built-in GPS device and can auto-detect your location and provide directions from Google Maps. Picture this: You are on the road...driving...and you have a little netbook and an Internet stick like this plugged in. That is your GPS system right there. You can even check your email, browse the web, etc (assuming you have pulled to the side by now!) - and suddenly you can do without a separate iPhone / BlackBerry / GPS device. All automakers need to do is to build in a netbook with this kind of mobile Internet and that is amazing value right there. Ah - the possibilities!

MD400g product specs include:

• HSPA technology – up to 7.2Mbps download and up to 2.0Mbps upload speeds.
• Built-in GPS receiver and GPS utility which can link directly in to Google Maps and mark your current location.
• First USB modem that supports both M2 Memory Stick Micro™ and microSD™ memory card formats. USB modem - can be used in any laptop or desktop.
• Built-in antenna complemented with an additional swivel 'Diversity' antenna maximizes reception performance and boosts data transmission.
• Auto-install, Auto configuration.

Mass availability of portable and cheap netbooks with mobile Internet sticks like the MD400g ought to cause a flutter or two in the camps of firms making these standalone devices - how do you compete against an Internet-connected PC ?