Expresscard modems

[hut49]

Latest Dell notebooks (and some others) come equipped with the new spec Expresscard slots which are superceding the PCMCIA datacard slots. The datacard modems launched by 3g, Vodafone, T-Mobile, etc. are thus not compatible. Vodafone has indicated that they plan to launch a USB modem on Nov 1st that gets around the problem - all other service providers are telling me that they have no defined plans to provide the new standard Expresscard modems or USBs. So I doubt without competition, that the Vodafone product will be value for money. I can get an adapter PCMCIA>Expresscard that lets me use any of the 3g datacards but the cost is 85 quid + post and frankly it's just going to be another bit of clutter to lug around.

Anyone on the inside of any of the service providers with an insight into availability of Expresscard 3g modems?