14 October 2009, 12:10

UMTS software for Ubuntu

Nova Media's Ubuntu UTMS application in action
Source: Nova Media Until now, the launch2net dial-up UMTS software has only been available for Mac OS X – among its licensees are T-Mobile, Vodafone and Sony Ericsson. Now, vendor Nova Media has made a beta of version 2.0 for Ubuntu available to download. This allows Linux users running Ubuntu 8.10 or 9.04 to use the convenient connection wizard for accessing their internal or USB UMTS modems, cards and mobile phones without the need for elaborate driver installations and configuration. Unlike dedicated dial-up solutions, the Berlin communication specialist's software includes an SMS text manager that makes it easy to send and manage text messages.

The launch2net beta for Ubuntu Linux is available in a 32-bit and a 64-bit variant; a list of compatible devices can be found on the vendor's device page. While Nova Media hasn't determined the prices for the final version, the Linux version is reportedly going to cost considerably less than the Mac OS version, which is currently available for just under 50 euros.