Sierra Wireless AirCard 890 will be available for $49.99 after mail-in rebate with a two-year DataConnect contract of at least $35 a month (pay $149.99 and after mail-in rebate receive $100 AT&T Promotion Card. Two-year agreement and DataConnect plan required).

This tracking service will be deployed by Vodacom and will be used by Tracker, South Africa’s leading stolen vehicle recovery and fleet management company. Vodacom provides Tracker with its network services.

The AirCard 503 data card, AirCard USB 308, and AirCard USB 309 modems form the second generation of products for HSPA+ networks, following the successful launch of the USB 306 earlier this year. Supporting peak download speeds of 21 megabits per second (Mbps) on an HSPA+ network, the AirCard 503, AirCard USB 308 and AirCard USB 309 modems provide digital nomads with the power to quickly upload the latest installment for their company’s viral video campaign, check the team collaboration site for updates, or download the most recent sales report from the back seat of a taxi on the way to the airport.

The AirCard 503 data card is a convertible 2-in-1 card that fits both PC card and ExpressCard slots for compatibility with a wide range of notebook computers. Its low profile, compact antenna, and impact resistant housing allow it to be safely stored in the notebook card slot even when inactive, providing for convenient, efficient network access whenever it’s needed.

The AirCard USB 308 and USB 309 modems sport a new industrial design and performance improvements, including faster installation and setup of Sierra Wireless Watcher™ connection manager and a faster browsing experience. The difference between the two models lies in the HSPA+ frequency bands supported – the AirCard USB 308 supports the 850, 1900, and 2100 MHz HSPA+ frequency bands, while the AirCard USB 309 supports the 900 and 2100 MHz frequency bands.

The AirCard USB 301 and USB 302 modems combine a sharp new design with a streamlined feature set for the value-driven consumer market. They offer peak download speeds of 7.2 Mbps and peak upload speeds of 5.76 Mbps on an HSPA network – plenty of power for routine daily tasks like Internet browsing, term paper research (even over a VPN), emailing photos, or staying up to date with social networks. As with the AirCard USB 308 and USB 309 modems, the AirCard USB 301 and USB 302 are distinguished by their frequency band support - the AirCard USB 301 operates on the 850 and 2100 MHz HSPA frequencies, while the AirCard USB 302 operates on the 900 and 2100 MHz frequencies.

The AirCard 402 includes high-performance GPS capabilities for a quick and accurate fix on your location. With the latest version of Sprint SmartView software, the AirCard 402 provides access to desktop GPS applications and/or location-based services to “locate and search” the nearest bank, restaurant or gas station. The $99.99 pricing required a 2-years service agreement contract.

“Verizon Wireless is committed to encouraging innovation and expanding the choices for mobile broadband customers,” said Tony Lewis, vice president of open development at Verizon Wireless. “Adding the Sierra Wireless USB 598 to the wide range of devices that are compatible with the Verizon Wireless network provides a new option for accessing the most reliable wireless 3G data network in the country.”

Sierra Wireless USB 598 features

• Potential data speeds of 3.1 Mbps on the downlink and 1.8 Mbps on the uplink.
• TRU-Install software installation technology steps first-time users through quick installation of the drivers and full software client directly from the modem, with no CD required.
• microSD slot allows for convenient storage and transfer of photos and other information between your laptop and your phone or another computer.

Sierra Wireless AirCard 402

• GPS capabilities with Sierra Wireless TRU-Locate™ technology to support mobile operator Location Based Services (LBS) for accurate and fast time-to-signal fix.
• Sierra Wireless GPS Monitor enables the user to enable/disable the modem’s GPS capability, collects and displays all the GPS information, and is integrated with location services from popular online mapping sites.
• Sierra Wireless TRU-Install software installation technology is preloaded on the device, guiding first-time users through quick installation of the drivers and full software client with no CD required.
• Sierra Wireless Watcher connection manager offers a simple and intuitive dashboard that provides status, performance, and network information, as well as support for sending and receiving SMS messages, call usage history and tracking, phonebook capability, and online help including frequently asked questions and troubleshooting tips.

Sierra Wireless will demonstrate the AirCard 402 data card at CTIA Wireless 2009, to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from April 1 to 3.

Helix routers provide a configurable WAN/LAN Ethernet port option and a built-in connection failover feature to ensure business continuity. Sensing when the primary connection fails, the Helix router automatically switches to the 3G wireless network. The router then continuously monitors wireline network availability and automatically reverts back to the primary connection when service is restored. The routers can also provide mobile hotspot access for public transportation vehicles, enabling riders to stay connected on their commutes. It offers a fully IPSec compliant VPN for data security, dual diversity 3G antenna ports, and an optional 802.11b/g WiFi access point with WPA and WPA2 encryption to provide secure access for authorized multiple mobile computing platforms, both on-board and within range of the vehicle.

The USB 306 is designed for North American and Asia-Pacific regions, operating on the 850, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands, and the USB 307 is optimized for Europe, operating on the 900 and 2100 MHz bands. To provide efficiency and convenience for users, Sierra Wireless TRU-Install loads the device drivers and Sierra Wireless Watcher connection manager software onto the computer the first time the USB modem is plugged in. Sierra Wireless Watcher connection manager makes it easy to check the modem’s status, network coverage, and signal strength. Both models are also equipped with a microSD card slot to provide convenient storage and assist with file transfers on-the-go.

Sierra Wireless Watcher 3.1 also optimizes the PC for mobile broadband network use by increasing the number of concurrent HTTP connections, producing up to 50 percent faster web page download time. Sierra Wireless Watcher 3.1 users can opt to have the latest features and updates to firmware, drivers, and Watcher installed automatically.

Sierra Wireless Watcher 3.1 includes integrated GPS application support. Clicking the GPS icon in the quick launch button tray triggers the GPS monitor, which reports the number of satellites acquired and provides location information. The map button within the GPS monitor exports the current location to one of several third-party mapping tools, providing easy access to navigation assistance and other location-based services. Users can also set GPS parameters to assist in the search, such as the fix rate, the location accuracy and the preferred units of measurement.

With enhanced GPS support, 598U customers enjoy simultaneous access to navigation and location applications, as well as additional information such as movie and restaurant reviews to help enrich their GPS experience. The 598U also includes a microSD expansion slot supporting memory cards up to 32 GB for convenient back up storage or file transfer, so users can carry high resolution images, large music files, presentations and other necessary documents with them wherever they go and share them as needed.