Nokia to ship its first internet dongle in early 2009

Nokia is entering the growing market for connecting laptops to wireless networks and will ship its first internet stick in early 2009.

The device, which will use a super-fast 3G technology called HSDPA, will be sold mostly through operators and bundled with services. Strategy Analytics said it expects the global market for dongles to grow to 26 million units in 2009 from 20 million this year.

Nokia first attempted to enter the market for connecting laptops to wireless networks in 2006, working with Intel; however, in early 2007, Nokia and Intel made a joint decision to cease co-operation on the module.