The Ericsson F3607gw module, available this June, has "wake-on-wireless" capability. That could allow an IT administrator to "send an SMS poison pill to kill and brick a PC," said Jan Backman, Ericsson's director of marketing for mobile broadband modules.

Fortunately, it'll be difficult to send the SMS Of Doom. The system Ericsson is looking at would require three text messages, sent in a particular sequence, containing a machine-specific code, Backman said.

Wake-on-wireless has some happier applications, too. Combined with a pre-boot environment like Phoenix's Hyperspace, it could let your PC show text messages or other data even when the PC is asleep or turned off.

The new module works with Windows 7, and consumes less power than previous modules, Backman said.

Right now the F3607gw will only be compatible with AT&T's 3G network, Backman said. Ericsson might build a T-Mobile compatible version in the future, but Sprint and Verizon will never be supported. The module will cost around $65, Backman said.