Laptop with Embedded HSDPA Module

[RadioRaiders]

I recently bought a Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Pro V3525 in Germany. This same model was also being sold by T-Mob (germany) with an embedded HSDPA module. The one I bought was thru a regular retailer and therefore didn't have the HSDPA module. But when I looked on the bottom panel there was a SIM card slot, and when I removed the bottom panel, I see a empty PCI Express slot and antenna conenctors for the HSDPA PCI module

...now I'm thinking to buy a HSDPA PCI module, but they don't seem too common. The manufacturers I've found so far are:

Sierra Wireless:
BSQUARE+and+Sierra+Wireless+Collaborate+to+Reduce+ Development+Time+and+Cost+for+OEMs+Adding+3G+Cellu lar+Capability+to+Embedded+Devices%3c%2fbr%3e

Novatel:
Expedite Modules

Ericsson:
Our Product and Services Offering

...Sierra Wireless seems to be the most common, and my laptop is supposed to come with the MC8755 / MC8775 module.

I still have a few questions:

1- Are the HSDPA PCI modules usually SIM locked to an operator? (ie: if I buy one on ebay)
2-Are they only sold to/via carriers and/or OEM laptop manufacturers? I don't see them sold directly in retail shops
3-I guess software/drives come bundeled with the module? Does it matter who the manufacturer of my laptop is, or what chipset it has? (ie: can i put a Novatel PCI card in my laptop even tho it was built to come with Sierra Wireless cards?)

Any feedback / discussion / experience with HSDPA PCI modules is very welcome

My new Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Pro V3525 (only sold in Europe)


The undernetath of my laptop with the cover removed (the SIM card slot has a seperate cover that can easily be taken off, the rest needs to be unscrewed)

[Jay2TheRescue]

My Dell inspiron 1525 SE computer has a SIM slot under the battery. You can get a HSDPA boadband card for $299 I think from Dell, and install it internally.

[RadioRaiders]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

My Dell inspiron 1525 SE computer has a SIM slot under the battery. You can get a HSDPA boadband card for $299 I think from Dell, and install it internally.

Yea, I saw Dell sells some directly for $199:

Dell : Dell AT&T Built-in Mobile Broadband (HSDPA 3.6) for Select Dell Inspiron / XPS Laptops : Mobile Broadband Adapters : Home & Home Office

...they also have a $170 rebate on it if you take a 2 year contract:
Find a Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Server, Printer, Software, Service, Monitor or TV at Dell.
...and someone should tell the lady in the picture it's not really a good idea to surf you laptop with your feet in the water...

...but I'm just wondering:

1) Is it SIM locked to AT&T, even if you just buy the HSDPA module outright without a AT&T service contract?
2) Is it somehow hardware-locked (or dependant) on only Dell laptops?

I guess I could ask Dell directly these questions (and probably will) but if anyone has taken a HSPA card from a Dell and put it in a different brand laptop (ie: Lenovo, Fujitsu, etc.) please let me know how it turned out!

PS- Dell doesn't make HSxPA card, they just re-brand them. Usually they are Sierra Wireless cards, or maybe Novatel. And starting this year Dell will use Ericsson:
Ericsson and Dell connect on HSPA in next-generation laptops - Press Release

[RadioRaiders]

To answer some of my own questions:

it appears some laptops have a list of allowed device numbers in the BIOS that allowed:
(this was written in reference to PCI WLAN cards, but PCI WWAN cards also probably apply)
Thinkpad MiniPCI wireless cards

...also, when this guy tried swapping a WWAN card in his Lenovo, it wouuldn't boot (for the reason mentioned above, I beleive)
thinkpads.com Support Community :: View topic - CONFIRMATION: 1804 with WWAN swap

...so I think since my laptop was sold by T-Mob with the MC8755 / MC8775 module, I should probably stay with those (or look in my BIOS somehow and see what card numbers are supported)