Sprint Stores Get 3G-Embedded Netbooks

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 11/2/2009

Overland Park, Kan. - Sprint began offering a netbook with embedded 3G wireless for the first time in its stores in select markets, joining indirect retailers who offer netbooks certified for use on the carrier's 3G network.

Sprint stores in San Francisco, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Baltimore have begun selling the 3G-equipped Dell Inspiron Mini 10 at $199 after $100 mail-in rebate with a two-year 3G service contract.

The carrier joins Verizon Wireless and AT&T in offering embedded netbooks in their stores. AT&T also recently partnered with Best Buy to offer a Nokia netbook exclusively through Best Buy. Verizon's netbooks are also available to indirect retailers to sell.

The required service contract offers 5GB of data at $59.99 per month on Sprint's 3G EV-DO Rev. A network, which delivers average upload speeds of 350-500 kbps and download speeds of 600kbps-1.4Mbps. Peak download data rates are 3.1Mbps, peak upload data rates are 1.8Mbps.

The 2.6-pound, 10.3 by 7.2 by 1.1-inch device features Windows XP Home Edition SP3 , Intel Atom 1.3 Z520 processor, 1GB memory, 160GB hard drive, and 10.1-inch 1024 by 600 WSGVA screen. Other features include Windows Internet Explorer 6, built-in 1.3-megapixel Web cam, five-in-one media reader, three USB ports, HDMI output, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11g and standard lithium-ion battery with about 2.5 hours of Web surfing time.