The GSM Association (GSMA) has announced that 16 global IT and mobile companies have banded together under its Mobile Broadband initiative.

Mobile Broadband is commonly marketed by mobile operators as 3G, with data rates ranging from 3.6 Mbps to 7.2 Mbps.

In the first phase, PC manufacturers and chipset providers will pre-install Mobile Broadband into a range of notebook PCs. To further support this initiative, GSMA has created the Mobile Broadband service mark, which will help consumers easily identify the array of 'ready to run' Mobile Broadband devices.

Ultimately, these moves will enable operators to address a US$50 billion opportunity in both mature and emerging markets, said GSMA.

Global media spending

According to GSMA, the Mobile Broadband service mark will be backed by a global media spending of more than US$1 billion in the next year.

"Today, 16 of the world's largest technology companies have committed to change the way people get online forever. This commitment is manifested in a service mark that we expect to see on several hundred thousand notebooks in the shops by the holiday season," said Michael O'Hara, chief marketing officer of the GSMA.

"The Mobile Broadband badge will assure consumers that the devices they buy will always connect, wherever Mobile Broadband is available, and that they can expect a high standard of simplicity and mobility," he added.

Launch participants include 3 Group, Asus, Dell, ECS, Ericsson, Gemalto, Lenovo, Microsoft, Orange, Qualcomm, Telefónica Europe, Telecom Italia, TeliaSonera, T-Mobile, Toshiba and Vodafone.