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Want free wireless? Check out T-Mobile's 4G Connect-powered laptops

Companies such as Dell and HP will be able to sell laptops with free cellular service. There are of course some strings attached.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
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  • SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.
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The Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook will be one of the first to get 4G Connect. Sarah Tew/CNET

T-Mobile unveiled a program today that allows consumers who buy certain laptops or tablets to access a free cellular connection.

The program, called 4G Connect, includes a built-in connection in select laptops, Ultrabooks, and tablets. The cell connection is free, but there are some catches. Consumers only get 200 megabytes of data each month, and free cellular connection lasts 12 or 24 months, depending on the manufacturer.

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The Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook and the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion dm1 are the first two devices to get 4G Connect.

4G Connect represent a new way to sell wholesale capacity to companies. Manufacturers are likely paying upfront for the access, and using the free cellular connection to attract consumers.

While 200 MB isn't a lot, it's enough to check e-mail or do a little casual Web browsing while on the go.

The embedded connection also means no need for a mobile hotspot, wireless USB dongle, or to search for a Wi-Fi hotspot.