USB dongles are just USB dongles, but this one looks pretty sweet. The MC995D is capable of running on HSPA, EDGE and GPRS networks with download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps and upload speeds up to 5.76 Mbps. I especially like the swiveling USB doohickey. Like Novatel’s other USB modems, the MC995D has an integrated GPS chip and microSD slot. And it comes with a built-in software package to get your Windows, Mac and Linux machine up and running ASAP. Look for it in Q2.
Also announced today are two embedded modems. The E970D is aimed at the European, Middle Eastern and Asian markets. The E960D is an HSPA module aimed right at us. Both have integrated GPS and optional PCM voice capabilities. No word on when they will be available, though.

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