Sony Integrates Sprint EV-DO In New Vaio Notebooks

Sony on Tuesday said it plans to offer EV-DO connectivity in its lineup of ultraportable Vaio notebooks in a partnership with Sprint.

The San Diego-based PC unit of the global electronics giant unveiled the Vaio VGN-TXN10 Series notebooks with WAN connectivity via Sprint's network. The laptops start at $2,300.

"We're definitely gaining traction in the commercial marketplace," said John Gawa, commercial product manager for Sony's Vaio line. "As far as we're concerned, we're continuing the strategy that we started a year and a half ago, which is launching the Vaio professional line and enhancing the Vaio professional line. That's working out well for us."

The deal with Sprint means that the Vaio notebooks can connect with the Sprint Power Vision SM network, which the telecommunications company is working to upgrade later this year in some markets to EV-DO Rev A technology for greater broadband speed.

Also on Tuesday, Sony said its 2007 road map for the Vaio TX series would continue the rollout of Sprint network integration as EV-DO Rev A technology becomes available.For the past two years, Sony has been working to win more commercial business with solution providers by producing a lineup of business-focused Vaio laptops, including the TX and BX lines. Gawa noted that the company has refreshed its business solutions Web site and introduced a VAR portal, in addition to providing a more business-focused strategy. He said the strategy and efforts have paid off.

"What I can say is that overall, dollarwise, in all segments of the channel, we grew [in the past year]," Gawa said. "With traditional VARs, with solution providers, we grew overall, dollarwise."