Overview:

Today laptops are all about reliable connectivity, especially for people using their device while on the move or from remote location. Laptop with cellular connectivity is expected to be the next big innovation in the computer industry and is touted to resurrect dwindling sales of laptops. Although laptops with 4G LTE connectivity have been available for several years, staying connected internationally continues to be a clunky and frustrating process. This is because several cellular carriers offering international roaming do not allow tethering feature, thereby compelling users to rely on internationally-supported hotspots or local SIM cards. By eliminating the need for swapping a SIM card, or purchasing a separate plan for international data, these laptops will relieve a major pain point for several international business travelers. The concept embraces huge potential to shape businesses across the globe by ensuring 24/7 access to information and real-time interaction with business partners and customers across the globe.

Most of the laptops available in the market utilize Wi-Fi (home or enterprise or public hotspots) for connectivity. However, the information transferred over the Wi-Fi technology is less secure in terms of both privacy and security. Thus, the concept of having built-in cellular network connection in productivity centric devices like laptops will not only offer ubiquitous connectivity on the move, but also the requisite privacy and security. Cellular operators across the globe are foreseeing this as an opportunity to increase their average revenue per user. For instance, Reliance Jio in association with American chipmaker Qualcomm is planning to develop a laptop with built-in cellular connection, especially for the Indian market. Similarly, the Internet of Things brand Smartron is also working in association with Qualcomm to develop laptops with in-built cellular connectivity. On the other hand, laptop manufacturers are estimating this as a futuristic potential avenue for business expansion. Manufacturers have so far been conservative in developing such laptops on large scale due to supply/demand issues. In addition, manufacturers require signing of complicated cellular contracts with specific data providers. In few cases users may be locked with one carrier and since the swapping process is difficult, it only augments technical complications that manufacturers need to look after. However, the impact of this challenge is presumed to subdue with the introduction of e-SIM option in laptops. Lenovo recently (2017) announced the introduction of its e-SIM laptops, which have allowed business travelers to connect globally without swapping SIM cards.

Global SIM Card Enabled Laptops Market is segmented on the following bases:

• By Platform
  • Windows
  • Mac OS
  • Android
  • Others (Linux, DOS etc.)
• By Geography
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Rest of North America
  • Europe
    • U.K.
    • Germany
    • France
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Rest of the World
    • Latin America
    • Middle East and Africa

Key players identified across the entire SIM card enabled laptops ecosystem (laptop manufacturers and cellular operators) include but are not limited to:

The Hewlett Packard Company, Lenovo Group Ltd., AsusTek Computer, Inc., Apple, Inc., Dell, Inc., Fujitsu, Qualcomm, Inc., Smartron, AT&T, Inc., Jio Reliance, Sprint Corporation, and Verizon Wireless, Inc among others.