It is safe to assume that most notebooks these days come with an ExpressCard slot, but how many of us actually make full use of it? Casual users certainly don’t – that’s one of the reasons why netbooks don’t come with such a slot. Sierra Wireless has unveiled a couple of ExpressCard modems for mobile professionals in the form of the AirCard 501 and AirCard 502. Is it me, or do these seem to be numbered after a famous brand of jeans? Let us take a deeper look at both cards right after the jump, and see if they’re suitable for your use where you can then sign up for either to remain all the more mobile in your work.

If you’re one whose work requires you to have access to a fast, reliable Internet and intranet connection while out from the office (sounds like a blogger to me, although as we all know, most bloggers don’t operate from an office but more from homes instead in their pajamas), then these offerings from Sierra Wireless will definitely be your cup of tea. Both the AirCard 501 and AirCard 502 ExpressCards are able to offer top download speeds of up to 7.2Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5.76Mbps, allowing one to deal with large files in email attachments as well as enjoy data-rich information like graphics or video in an obscure place like a parking lot or the toilet (if you’re so inclined), without missing a beat.

Nice to see Sierra Wireless do away with the internal antenna design, making it much more durable since there are no moving parts to worry about. It juts out from the ExpressCard slot by a mere 3cm, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking off by accident, allowing you to store safely in the notebook when traveling. Installation is a snap thanks to Sierra Wireless’ TRU-Install software installation utility that works the first time the card is inserted into the slot, so you won’t need to bring around a CD with you wherever you go. There is no word on pricing, but we do know that the AirCard 501 supports the 850, 1900, and 2100 MHz HSPA frequency bands, while the AirCard 502 supports the 900, 1900, and 2100 MHz frequency bands. Both models are backward compatible with UMTS, EDGE and GSM networks around the world.

Press Release