CES: OQO shows off WiMax-enabled ultramobile PC

by Matt Hamblen

January 7, 2008 —

WiMax high-speed wireless networks and devices will be a major topic of interest
at CES, and
OQO Inc. is demonstrating one the first devices to use the technology this week.

The OQO Model 02, an ultramobile PC running Windows Vista that was first introduced
a year ago, is embedded with mobile WiMax capabilities. The newest model, which
weighs 1 lb., sells for US$1,299, a drop of $400 from the price versions shipped
a year ago, a spokesman said.

OQO also offers a high-end
version that will include 64GB of storage and a display optimized to be used
in sunlight.

The WiMax capability is arguably the biggest news about the new offering from
OQO, even as full-sized laptops that also support WiMax are expected to appear
this week. Sprint
Nextel Corp. and Motorola
Inc. are joining Intel Corp.
in a range of demonstrations of WiMax, including in a car being driven through
Las Vegas while using WiMax.

Bob Rosin, a senior vice president of marketing at San Francisco-based OQO,
said the appeal of WiMax on a small device is the ability to run applications,
such as video, with the same high speed and full functionality as they would
from a desktop.

The shipping version of the OQO Model 02 supports wide-area wireless access
via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or EV-DO Rev. A. It features a sliding display that reveals
a full QWERTY keyboard. It is 5.6 in. wide, 3.3 in. high and 1 in. thick.

Computerworld