Intel Corp. has promised to integrate WiMax connectivity into its next-generation Intel Centrino mobile platform, but business customers need wireless broadband right now and quite some cities lack WiMax providers, whereas 3G networks are present in a lot of countries. Lenovo, the maker of IBM ThinkPad laptops, said its forthcoming X60 and T60 machines will support 3D and even faster wireless broadband capabilities.

Select models of upcoming ThinkPad T60- and X60-series notebooks will feature integrated high-speed wireless support for VerizonWireless in the U.S. Additionally, customers in U.K., France and Germany will be able to get 3G connectivity from Vodafone, the world’s biggest carrier. Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess provides download speeds between 400-700KB/s. In future Lenovo ThinkPad laptops will feature High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology that allows up to 1.4Mb/s speed.

ThinkVantage Access Connections 4.1 software will be installed on the forthcoming notebooks, Lenovo said. The software suite helps mobile users set up and automatically switch from one available network connection to the next, helping reduce costly help desk calls for assistance in changing IP settings, defining default printers or accessing a wireless network. In addition to facilitating wireless peer-to-peer networking, Access Connections 4.1 supports wired, WLAN (wireless local area networks) and WWAN (wireless wide area networks) connectivity.

The new ThinkPad T60 and X60 notebooks will be built around Intel Centrino Duo mobile platform that features dual-core Core Duo (Yonah) processors, Intel 945-series mobile chipsets, dual-channel PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 memory, Serial ATA-300 hard disk drives and an array of multimedia enhancements.

The ThinkPad T60 measures an inch (2.5cm) thin with a travel weight of 4.8lbs (2.18Kg). For mobile workers, the ThinkPad T60-series includes a more durable system design, coupling the ThinkPad roll cage – an inner armor chassis – with its airbag-like active protection system and ThinkPad shock-mounted hard drive. The X60-series provides smaller footprint and lower weight while allowing to operate up to 11 hours on battery.

The new WWAN-enabled laptops will be available in Q2 2006.