Lenovo on Monday introduced Lenovo Mobile Access, a flexible, no-contract mobile broadband service that gives consumers and business users greater choice and flexibility when connecting to valued online services.

 Lenovo Mobile Access provides pre-connected, always on, customizable connectivity to the Internet and corporate networks, making it an ideal solution for users who need access to online content, applications and services away from their home, office or public Wi-Fi hotspots. Powered by a scalable cloud-based platform from Macheen Inc., the service is now embedded across select models of the ThinkPad product line and available immediately in the United States and nine European countries.

"We live in world where it's not only undesirable to be without online access, it's often disruptive to businesses. For that reason we wanted to create a flexible mobile broadband solution that would be unparalleled in its ability to help business users stay connected and working," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president and general manager, ThinkPad Business Unit, Lenovo.

"Fundamentally, Lenovo Mobile Access gives individual and corporate customers options to determine how, when and where they want to connect with online applications and services, all at a price that fits their budget."

Designed to fit the needs of both individual and "prosumer" customers, Lenovo Mobile Access delivers broadband connectivity that's available anytime, anywhere yet users pay only for the access they need. Flexible, no-contract payment options let casual users buy a "Time Pass" for as little as USD 1.95 for 30 minutes or USD 8.95 for one day perfect to quickly sync email or ensure online access during travel. Users with more frequent connectivity requirements, or who work with large media files can purchase monthly plans with 2GB or 6GB of data access, along with the option for automatic monthly renewal. Businesses can leverage the same pay as you go options, helping them reduce the cost of mobile broadband connectivity with right sized access that can be extended to large numbers of individual employees.

"To date, connectivity has been 'off the rack' and one size fits all too many mobile users are forced to squeeze into a mobile broadband contract that gives them either more or less connectivity than they need, or they go without entirely," said Richard Schwartz, president and CEO, Macheen. "With service by Macheen, Lenovo Mobile Access lets users trade ill fitting plans for tailored connectivity featuring pay as you go rates and customized access for any device, application and user. Quite literally, it's access to cloud-based content, services and applications that fits the way users work and live, meaning virtually all ThinkPad users can enjoy the value of true mobility."

Lenovo Mobile Access is available immediately in select models of ThinkPad Classic and ThinkPad Edge laptops equipped with a 3G module. At launch, the service is available in the United States, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. Contract-free time passes are available in the following increments and data allotments 30 minutes (30MB), 1 day (200MB), 1 month (2GB) and 1 month (6GB). Auto renewable, bandwidth-specific monthly plans are also available for data allotments of 200MB, 2GB and 6GB. Country specific pricing information is available on the Lenovo Mobile Access control panel.