For Immediate Release

Datawind unveils the UbiSurfer

 Access the internet anywhere for free

Datawind, a leading provider of wireless web access products and services, announces the launch of the UbiSurfer, the first netbook to offer users free Internet access in the UK and low cost roaming in Europe and USA. Priced at £159.99 and available from Idea World (www.idealworld.tv) and Maplin retail stores, the UbiSurfer combines Wi-Fi, LAN and embedded wireless data modem and SIM to make the Internet truly ubiquitous.

Delivering DataWind’s acclaimed desktop-like web experience for mobile devices, the UbiSurfer provides fast, easy access to web pages, while preserving the familiarity to which consumers have become accustomed.

Suneet S. Tuli, CEO of Datawind commented, “Our main driver as a company is to offer free internet to everyone, everywhere. With the UbiSurfer we are offering 30 hours a month of free usage and we mean free, no hidden costs, no wires and no contract and it’s this that sets us apart from others in the market.”

Connectivity is one of the UbiSurfer’s strongest assets. Apart from the standard Wi-Fi and LAN connections, Datawind has teamed up with Vodafone to offer an embedded SIM and GPRS modem. This allows access to the internet anywhere a mobile phone signal is available, at home and abroad. Users are not limited to Wi-Fi hotspots and there is no need to buy a costly USB broadband dongle to ensure connection. Due to Datawind’s patented acceleration technology the UbiSurfer delivers web pages faster than other portable netbooks on a mobile network, at five to seven seconds per page.

Another feature that makes the UbiSurfer stand out from the competition is the free-usage model which eliminates the complexity of purchasing mobile web devices by eliminating lengthy contractual payments, activation fees and credit checks. With the UbiSurfer you pay for the device not the usage. For the average user, there are no monthly fees, airtime tariffs, contracts or recurring fees – those are paid for by Datawind. Users get 30 hours of free surfing a month for 12 months and 5p per minute roaming in Europe. Upgrading to an unlimited usage package is available, and only an additional £5.99 a month.

Weighing just 700g and boasting either a piano black or rubberised matt finish that resists fingerprints and scratches, the UbiSurfer has a compact, portable design meaning users can be connected anywhere, at anytime. Decked out with a seven inch TFT wide screen display that has an 800 by 480 pixel resolution, a full QWERTY keyboard and powered by an Arm processor and an easy to use Linux operating system, the UbiSurfer will fulfil most computing needs. Applications include web browsing, calendar, media player, XIP Office (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation) PDF Viewer, Email, Paint and Games.

The UbiSurfer was specifically designed to provide enhanced functionality and convenience. The netbook offers 1GB SSD (solid state disk) shock proof storage plus 25GB of online storage. This can be expanded with a USB or SD Flash Memory device. Other features include an SD/SDHC card reader meaning users can easily upload images and a built in microphone and duel speaker system Stereo Sound Earphone Jack. The battery offers up to four hours run time.

Pricing and availability

• Basic usage (30 hours per month) is included for the first year, and requires no additional fees.

• Basic usage for the second year would cost a maximum of £29.99 for the whole year at 30 hours per month.

• Heavy users can opt for unlimited access for only £5.99 a month.

Features

• 7” TFT – Wide screen display (800 x 480 pixels)

• 128MB Ram; 1GB Flash

• GPRS 900 Mhz, 1800Mhz with Embedded SIM Wireless LAN WiFi IEEE 802.11 b/g Ethernet Port 10MB

• Built-in microphone and duel speaker system Stereo Sound Earphone Jack

• Full QWERTY keyboard

• Touchpad Mouse Pointer

• 700g/ 222 x 165 x 29.5 mm

• Push-Push SD card socket / 3x USB Ports/ 1 x Earphone/ 1 x Microphone/ 1 x Ethernet

• Datawind Web Browser, Calendar, Media Player, XIP Office (Word processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation) PDF Viewer, Email, Paint, Games.

For further information, or to request NFR units for review, please contact sophie@raniericoms.com or Louise@raniericoms.com 

About DataWind –          

                                www.datawind.com

DataWind is a leading provider of wireless web access products and services. Based on several international patents, DataWind’s breakthrough technologies solve the bandwidth limitations of cellular networks by accelerating content delivery by factors of 10x to 30x. Based in London, DataWind also has offices in Montreal, Canada.

Contact:

Agency:
Sophie Spooner Ranieri Communications
Sophie@raniericoms.com
+44 (0) 1296 394 614
www.raniericommunications.com