The ain't got no PC card blues - cured

An increasing number of small form factor laptops, Tablet PCs, and UMPC devices do not include a PC Card (PCMCIA) slot, leaving 3G users out of luck. Until now. Alliance Technology Partners has just announced availability of a PC Card to USB adapter that promises to solve the problem.

By Marc Orchant for Office Evolution | May 24, 2006 -- 05:00 GMT (22:00 PDT) | Topic: Mobility

This small device acts as a portable card slot and passes the information through a USB port on the PC. The following high-speed data cards are supported:

PC5220 - Cingular, Verizon
PC5740 - Verizon
Kyocera Wireless Passport KPC650 - Verizon
Novatel Wireless S620 - Sprint, Verizon
Novatel Wireless U730 - Cingular
Sierra Wireless Aircard 580 - Sprint

The adapter is apparently already in demand. Alliance reports that new orders will be filled in early June. The adapter costs $199.00. No word on the site whether this device will work on the MacBook laptops from Apple which also do not include a full-sized PC Card slot.

Hat tip to Rob Bushway at GottaBeMobile.com