Toshiba Satellite U405-ST550W With Integrated WiMAX

Toshiba have announced their own WiMAX-enabled notebook, the Satellite U405-ST550W, which will take advantage of Sprint's high-speed XOHM WiMAX network announced today in Baltimore.  The Satellite U405 has a 13.3-inch display, Centrino 2 chipset and uses Intel's WiMAX/WiFi Link 5050 Series mobile networking card.

Specific specs for the U405-ST550W are unknown, but the ultraportable notebook is likely to use Intel's Core 2 Duo T5750 processor, have 3GB of RAM and a DVD burner.  The U405-series have webcams and microphones, together with Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.

Hard-drive size is expected to be in excess of 320GB.  The Toshiba Satellite U405-ST550W laptop with integrated WiMAX will go on sale today, price is unknown.

Press Release:

TOSHIBA SUPPORTS INTRODUCTION OF MOBILE WiMAX WITH THE LAUNCH OF WiMAX-ENABLED SATELLITE U405 LAPTOP

Intel Centrino 2-based Toshiba Laptop Provide Users with Greater Range of Wireless Connectivity

Baltimore — Oct. 8, 2008 — BALTIMORE, (Oct. 8, 2008) – Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), today announced its support of Intel® and WiMAX(1) 4G wireless broadband technology to deliver extended broadband on-the-go. In support of the launch of the first mobile WiMAX network in the US, and the beginning of a new era of wireless broadband, Toshiba announced the Satellite® U405-ST550W laptop PC will be WiMAX enabled to offer users a rich, immersive mobile Internet experience over entire metropolitan areas. The initial WiMAX rollout is within the city of Baltimore.

"WiMAX wireless technology is built for the future," said Jeff Barney, vice president and general manager, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "With the incorporation of WiMAX technology into Toshiba laptops, we are confident we will provide users with the opportunity to explore a new era of wide spread connectivity and productivity."

WiMAX broadband technology lays the foundation for next-generation wireless connectivity, and empowers Toshiba laptop PC users with the capability to access data-intensive applications, including media streaming, live video conferencing and mobile TV, through a broadband-speed wireless Internet connection with a geographical range that far exceeds what's possible via a Wi-Fi™ wireless hotspot.

Enabling next-generation wireless capabilities, Intel Centrino 2-based Toshiba laptops are now shipping with the first-ever combined WiMAX/Wi-Fi module, formerly codenamed "Echo Peak," as part of the Intel WiMAX/Wi-Fi Link 5050 Series.

"WiMAX is a game-changing and disruptive technology for a world that is rapidly shifting to an unwired, always connected Internet," said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer of Intel Corporation. "Intel has worked closely with Toshiba to deliver one of the first and most innovative WiMAX-based laptops based on our Intel Core™2 processors, unwrapping a gateway to new 4G speed experiences."

The Satellite U405-ST550W is available for purchase exclusively from Toshiba at www.ToshibaDirect.com. Complete product specifications for the Satellite U405-ST550W laptop are available at www.ToshibaDirect.com and www.explore.toshiba.com/U405.