The push behind the Always Connected PC vision has been ramping up in recent weeks, with manufacturers like HP, ASUS, and Lenovo all joining the fray with their own LTE PCs based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform. Now, Microsoft and Qualcomm have announced the first batch of mobile operators that will actively support Always Connected PCs around the world. These initial carriers will help to bring "easy and affordable connectivity plans to consumers on advanced LTE wireless networks," Microsoft and Qualcomm said in a press release.
Throughout the first half of 2018 and beyond, the companies say, mobile operators in China, Italy, the UK, and the U.S. will officially support Always Connected PCs. Here's a look at the carriers you can expect to roll out support in each region:
- China – China Telecom
- Italy – TIM (Telecom Italia)
- U.K. – EE
- U.S. – Sprint, Verizon
In addition to supporting connected PCs on their LTE networks, you can expect each operator to stock Always Connected PCs in their retail store, Qualcomm and Microsoft say.
In early December, Microsoft and its hardware partners revealed the first entries in the Always Connected PC category. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835, the PCs, like the HP Envy x2 and ASUS NovaGo offer exceptional battery life, instant-on, and a persistent LTE connection. At CES 2018, Lenovo jumped into the fray with its own entry, the Miix 630.
Expect some of the above carriers to stock Always Connected devices throughout 2018, in addition to direct sales from the manufacturers themselves and Microsoft.

Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked is April 28. Are new laptops on the way?
Samsung has a new Galaxy Unpacked event happening on Wednesday, April 28th. What is odd is Samsung has already announced all its flagship phones for this season, suggesting this could be about its non-phone hardware. We have a few ideas based on recent leaks ...

Beoplay Portal for Xbox first look: Premium feel meets puzzling oversights
Bang & Olufsen caught the gaming world off guard with the launch of its ultra-premium Beoplay Portal headset. With an eye-watering $500 price, the headset cost as much as an Xbox Series X. But is it worth it? Here are some early thoughts.

Could Microsoft roll out a handheld Xbox console to take on Nintendo?
Since the dawn of time, man has looked to the heavens and asked, "what if Microsoft made an Xbox handheld?" For fun, let's imagine what that could potentially look like.

These external monitors go perfectly with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an excellent laptop, but what if you want to project the display onto a larger screen? You'll need an external monitor for that. Here are our favorite options.