Sierra Wireless today is announcing Device Stage support with Windows 7 for their AirCard line of products. Sierra Wireless is the first mobile broadband modem company to support Device Stage with Windows 7.
A lot of laptops today come with built-in 3G mobile broadband capabilities. However, if you have a laptop that doesn’t – that’s where Sierra Wireless’s AirCard products come in. With one of Sierra Wireless’s AirCard devices, you can give your laptop 3G mobile broadband access. I was given a Sierra Wireless AirCard USB 306 to try over the weekend. My Dell Studio 1555 (aka “The Goat”) doesn’t have built in 3G mobile broadband capabilities. So it’s a perfect PC to give the AirCard USB 306 a try.
Through their Device Stage experience, I was quickly able to fire up the Sierra Wireless Watcher application. Through Sierra Wireless Watcher, you can quickly connect to a mobile broadband wireless network. In my case, I was able to connect to AT&T within seconds. After connecting, I fired up Internet Explorer 8 and was browsing the web. I was also able to check my email through Outlook and chat with friends with Windows Live Messenger.
The Device Stage offers several options for our Sierra Wireless device including the ability to check for any new firmware and software updates from Sierra Wireless, check your wireless broadband speed, go to Sierra Wireless’s online store to purchase any AirCard accessories, and of course their FAQ.
With Device Stage, Sierra Wireless AirCard devices also get a Jump List experience on the Windows Taskbar as well!
On a side note – the AirCard USB 306 also has a microSD expansion slot for the added benefit of some extra storage too.
Through Device Stage, Sierra Wireless has direct access to their customers with their products. They will be able to update the experience support their marketing campaigns and updates to their products.
Sierra Wireless will be at CTIA Wireless in Las Vegas this week and will be showing off their Device Stage experience in Windows 7 at their booth (Central Hall at #3515).