More detailed hardware specs for the MiniMax:

MiniMax HW specs

We’re putting together a spec sheet on the external modem also, so should have that available soon.

We received today the initial version of our Windows Vista drivers for the Next G modems!

Initial testing has gone quite smoothly, so we will hopefully be providing these quite soon. The drivers are Microsoft WHQL certified, which means the installation is seamless.
At this stage they only allow the modems to work as a dial up modem (as opposed to a wireless networking device which our Win XP drivers simulate). This appears to be an issue with Qualcomm, so we are waiting on them.

Screenies:

I also ran a quick speed test on Vista (performance.toast.net) and average around 900kbps.

I tried out Skype today using two Next G MiniMax’s.

I ran a delay test to a couple of major web sites first (google, news.com, bigpond) and the connection averaged around 250ms all up (bigpond was much quicker, but google was a bit slower). The signal strength where I tested was pretty much perfect. I’d like to test again while driving, but that’s for another day!

I connected two computers through Next G MiniMaxes. Both running Windows XP (SP2) and Skype 3.0.0.190. One was a standard IBM desktop, the other a MacBookPro (with bootcamp).

I tried two different tests, once with the video also turned on (from the macbook to the ibm), and once without.

Both tests worked perfectly! There was at most a half second delay between the two ends, even with video turned on (for comparison I also made a call to a friend connected over ADSL, and the delay time was exactly the same). Voice quality was fine.

The testing I did consisted of talking non-stop for 10 minutes from one connection to the other (from the macbook to the ibm). I did some rough measurements of the amount of bandwidth consumed at the “receiving” end, and here are the results:

With video streaming (after 10 mins of connection and non-stop talking):

Downloads: 6.3 MB

Uploads: 2.9 MB

Without video streaming (after 10 mins of connection and non-stop talking):

Downloads: 2.85 MB

Uploads: 2.4 MB

I found it interesting that even though I wasn’t transmitting any voice from the end I measured at, the uploads and downloads were still pretty close. This might be to do with how Skype functions more than anything else…

We don’t have a proper VoIP box to test with here, but we might be able to test something other than Skype in the future.

Bigpond has today launched the first two of our Next G modems, a MiniMax replacement, and a replacement for the old BigPond Mobile Broadband CDMA external modem.You can find out more details about the pricing options for these modems over at Bigpond’s Wireless Broadband page.

Sales and tech support for these modems is available from BigPond (Sales – 131 282, Tech – 133 933)

Make sure to check out the coverage for the areas you need mobile internet access in.

Unfortunately MAC OS support is not available at this stage, but we are working hard at providing that.

Approaching d-day with the MiniMax, and things are looking good.  There are a couple of versions of the modem that we are working on, with one of them being completely finished, and the other only needing a few more fixes.

We now have WHQL (Microsoft) certified Windows drivers for the modem, which will make the installation process even more streamlined.

We’re also hearing good news from the Mac OS driver developer, he’s online with the modem! (which is more exciting than it sounds).  He has indicated that he might be able to provide support for older versions of Mac OS (eg 10.2 and 10.3).  No promises at this stage, but it’s looking good.  In terms of development time we realistically won’t have it at launch, but it should certainly be available not long after!

Maxon Australia was honored as a finalist in this years Telstra Vendor Awards (http://www.telstra.com.au/supplying_to_telstra/awards.htm).

From the Telstra Vendor Awards website:

“[The Telstra Vendor Awards are] a program designed to recognise and reward the significant contribution vendors make to Telstra.
The Telstra Vendor Awards recognise those suppliers to Telstra who are leading the way in developing improvements and adding extra value to the vendor-purchaser relationship – vendors who assist Telstra to create a world of 1 click, 1 touch, 1 button, 1 screen, 1 step solutions that are simple, easy and valued by individuals, businesses, enterprises and government.”

Maxon Australia entered into a number of categories, and were selected as a finalist for Excellence in Service Delivery.  It was rather humbling being recognized in the prescence of massive multinational companies such as Alcatel, Cisco and IBM.

Maxon Australia has been challenged to continue to strive for excellence, we have our eye on winning an award at next year’s Telstra Vendor Awards!