Computer manufacturer Dell has phased out production of its mobile broadband-embedded netbook.

Launched in September last year, the group's Inspiron Mini 9 model came equipped with high-speed mobile internet from Vodafone.

While the Mini 9, which boasts connection speeds up to 14 times quicker than 3G, is no longer advertised on Dell's website, it is still listed on Vodafone's homepage for a subscription fee of £20 per month.

In a blog post, Dell revealed that since the launch of the Mini 9 it had expanded the franchise to include new products featuring improvements based on customer feedback and industry innovations.

Dell went on to note that customers should instead consider its more recent Mini 10v, which includes a ten-inch display and larger keyboard.

Netbooks and other portable devices have grown in popularity as more and more people look to take advantage of mobile broadband, with Pyramid Research last month forecasting that the number of individuals using the technology could rise to 116.6 million by 2014.