Motorola delves into embedded modules

Motorola  (NYSE: MOT) today launched an initiative to integrate its three core mobile broadband technologies into a range of networked consumer electronic devices. The new embedded modules include one for WiMax, one for HSPA and one for long-term evolution (LTE). With this initiative, Moto is targeting any CE maker looking to add mobile Internet to its devices, including notebooks, netbooks, portable gaming devices and other mobile Internet devices.

While certainly not a new concept for the industry, embedded data cards are a new foray for Moto, according to Manash Goswami, director of business development for platform technology at Motorola's mobile devices business. The company will start with only single-mode cards, but it isn't ruling out going dual-mode in the future, he said.

"We have invested heavily in developing technology around all of these three areas and we plan to continue to develop and enhance our technology portfolio with further investments in LTE and beyond – whatever it may be, given that wireless is in our DNA," Goswami said.

The three standards-compliant data cards all support various PC and embedded operating systems. Moto is working with infrastructure vendors and operators to certify use of the embedded modules on their networks. The HSPA and WiMax cards, Motorola WTM1100 and HTM1000, respectively, will be commercially available in the third quarter of this year, while limited samples of the LTE LTM1000 will be available in Q4.