02. Aug, 2009 Comments

The Examiner reports: Apple tablet rumored to feature fast 4G wireless

The rumors continue to swirl around the Apple tablet. One of the juiciest is that the forthcoming Apple tablet will eschew 3G and go directly to fast 4G wireless connectivity.

Including 4G in an Apple tablet makes sense—especially in view of the promise that 4G offers in supporting faster bandwidths. Reports have indicated that early tests of LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G by Verizon have yielded bandwidths of up to 60 Mbps.

Although these are only rumors, in many ways they make great sense. If Apple is to offer a tablet why not use the next generation in cellular technology, 4G?

According to TechCrunch, “there is definitely some credibility to this Apple/Verizon tablet talks, because such a partnership could work while the Apple/AT&T exclusive iPhone pact is still in place…The reason is that this tablet will apparently not have a microphone, so in other words, it cannot do voice calls, which puts it outside of the Apple/AT&T agreement.”

So does Apple stay with AT&T for the iPhone and use Verizon for the Apple tablet? Or do they jump completely from the AT&T ship for both the Apple tablet and the next generation iPhone? The answer probably resides in the timing.

AT&T is not expected to launch their LTE network until sometime in 2011. That makes AT&T appear to be the laggard in terms of 4G deployment. With a 2010 expected launch date, Verizon could well be an entire year ahead of AT&T making their 4G launch coincide with the anticipated release date of the Apple tablet. This timing also coincides with the rumored end of Apple’s contractual arrangement with AT&T.

To add a bit more fuel to the fire, TechCrunch offers an interesting observation about the reportedly tenuous relationship between Apple and AT&T. “Our source went on to note that Apple and Verizon doing some kind of business seems inevitable. They reiterated claims — which we’ve heard from several other sources — that the folks inside Apple are not happy with AT&T at all right now given the spotty service, and seeming inability to handle the iPhone’s rapid growth.”

booboo

I do not believe the tablet will come to Verizon unless something ugly happens between Apple and ATT. And I do not think that Verizon will have 1 year advance ahead of ATT.

ATT is already 3G and is moving to HSUPA and HSPA+ next year, and upgade to LTE in 2011. Verizon needs to change their old system to the new one (what do you do with all the customers you have?). Ver completed a LTE test in Aug 2009, and they will start to deploy LTE in early 2010, with system wide deployment by 2013.

I think ATT will have LTE up and running system wide before Verizon, and 2010 will be a bridge to LTE. Where I live they already updated the network to 7.2 and I can see that on my iPhone.

Wishful thinking from the Verizon users. What I really hope is that Apple will open its products (iPhone and the rumored tablet) to all the vendors... Maybe when LTE is standard and all vendors have it?

kala2

What is the difference between 3G and 4G??

dayne123

james445: completely agree - the carriers bundled data for iphone is not great. I agree that they data plan situation will have to be reviewed for people to be able to afford the 3g/4g internet.

MarkB

not sure, would hope so. Sometimes my 3g is faster than my internet at home.

macca

will it run faster than wireless internet?

James445

it would... but at what cost... right now I'm pretty upset that they are charging for data separately for iPhone users and its not coming out of my bundled data with my plan. Apple need to not be greedy if they want this to take off.