Intel Corp.’s next-generation mobile platform may get support for high-speed cellular networks, according to slides, which presumably came from Intel roadmap. While the support for additional communication capability is not compulsory, it is interesting to note that Intel did not decide to support looming WiMAX technology by the platform code-named Santa Rosa.

According to slides published by Chinese web-site HKEPC, Intel has a code-named Windigo technology that allows substitute to expensive proprietary cellular network cards. The Windigo is a set of chips as well as radio antenna that provide notebooks opportunity to connect to 2.5G (EDGE, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) and 3G (CDMA-2000/WCDMA) networks without using specially designed cards, such as Vodafone Mobile Connect. End-users will have to plug-in their SIM cards into computers to connect.

Cellular networks that support EDGE technology, which are currently very wide-spread, can transfer data at the speed of up to 384kb/s, while CDMA-2000 and WCDMA have peak transfer speeds of up to 2.4Mb/s.

Earlier this year Lenovo said that select models of 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.

Lenovo is among the first companies to offer built-in broadband connectivity in its laptops. Nevertheless, such laptops are tied to a particular network operator and not all notebook users can enjoy wireless wide area network (WWAN) connectivity. Intel’s initiative is likely to help broader audience to get high-speed Internet virtually anywhere. Intel has been working on support of WWANs by mobile platforms for several years now.