Intel And Sprint Announce Partnership For 5G PCs Launching In 2019

With 5G on the horizon, Intel is still going to be working on 4G-equipped computers as well. Intel plans to help deliver ten more 4G-connected PCs from Dell, Asus, Acer, and HP before the 5G machines roll out, which presumably will mean these other PCs are coming this year. This is in addition to the 25 Intel-powered 4G machines that are on the market already.

What’s a bigger mystery is exactly when Sprint will start to roll out its 5G service. As of now, it has not announced any plans. However, the lack of details on the 5G rollout isn’t exactly surprising considering Sprint and T-Mobile have just announced their merger and are trying to figure out how to move forward (pending regulatory approval).

There will be benefits to 5G always-connected PCs other than faster mobile internet access. The machines also promise to consume less power and may finally let Intel and its partners meet the "all-day" battery goal that it has targeted for years. It will also be interesting to see if Sprint offers an unlimited data deal similar to what it is offering this summer for folks on certain Snapdragon-powered "Always Connected" Windows 10 devices. Unlimited 5G data is unlikely as with more speed available people tend to consume more data since they can stream Netflix and other video sources with better quality to their heart's content.