Rumor: Verizon installing LTE equipment at Apple Stores ahead of 'iPad 3'

Posted:
in iPad edited January 2014


Verizon Wireless is rumored to have begun installing LTE network equipment at Apple's retail stores in preparation for the arrival of the third-generation iPad.



Multiple sources have claimed recently that Apple will announce 4G LTE support for the new iPad at a media event on Wednesday. The rumor was bolstered by a teaser from Verizon on Tuesday that said "something is coming" and allowed interested customers to sign-up to learn more.



Cult of Mac that Verizon has been hard at work installing LTE equipment at Apple's retail locations "over the last couple days." Further details on the project, however, remained scarce.



Separately, AppleInsider heard from tipsters last month that Verizon was sending "plain clothes contractors" to upgrade the network infrastructure at certain Apple Stores, though those reports remain as yet unconfirmed.



Verizon has emerged as the LTE market leader in the U.S. with a 4G network that covers 200 million customers. Rival AT&T, the only other company to have built an LTE network in America, had reached 74 million people with its own 4G offerings as of the end of 2011.











According to Reuters, Apple intends the move to LTE to "tempt" customers into paying more to watch "high-quality video on the go." A 4G-capable iPad could potentially reach download speeds up to 10 times faster than current 3G models.



As Apple's media event has approached, some analysts have weighed in on the likelihood of an LTE iPad. Sterne Agee's Shaw Wu cited sources as saying Apple has made "notable progress" on improving battery life for 4G devices. A large percentage of LTE smartphones and tablets currently on the market have received negative feedback due to rapid battery drain when 4G is enabled.



Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said last year that the company had held off on introducing LTE because it required too many "design compromises." Next-generation chipsets from Qualcomm have reportedly addressed some of the issues that Apple had with the technology and may be ready for inclusion in the company's touchscreen tablet.



AppleInsider will have full, live coverage of Apple's media event, which takes place on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern.



[ View article on AppleInsider ]

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 15
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Oh yeah! I forgot about that rumour. This article certainly sways heavy that an LTE iPad will arrive tomorrow. So will it be the MDM9600 (45nm, no voice option) or MDM9615 (28nm, voice option) chip?
  • Reply 2 of 15
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Bleh.
  • Reply 3 of 15
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member
    Ah yes, the carrier update rumor. Seems to pop up with every iPhone or iPad launch lately.
  • Reply 4 of 15
    dagamer34dagamer34 Posts: 494member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    Oh yeah! I forgot about that rumour. This article certainly sways heavy that an LTE iPad will arrive tomorrow. So will it be the MDM9600 (45nm, no voice option) or MDM9615 (28nm, voice option) chip?



    Hopefully the latter, otherwise the iPad 2 might as well have had LTE.
  • Reply 5 of 15
    oneaburnsoneaburns Posts: 354member
    Not a road warrior and so many places have wifi...no need for LTE for me. Plus it's not available in lots of places.
  • Reply 6 of 15
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dagamer34 View Post


    Hopefully the latter, otherwise the iPad 2 might as well have had LTE.



    Plus the MDM9615 is likely the same chip (or one very similar) that will be used in the 6th gen iPhone. After the baseband firmware issues causing battery problems in the 4S vetting the iPads in real world situations for an assumed 6 months before the next iPhone launch date should help make it rock solid.
  • Reply 7 of 15
    dunksdunks Posts: 1,254member
    If Apple stores provide free wifi what would be the point of in store LTE exactly?
  • Reply 9 of 15
    macquestmacquest Posts: 30member
    Retina/HD/1536/WHATEVER display, Siri, and 4G LTE (hopefully TD-LTE compatabile/capable for China Mobile's 650 million customers sometime this year) and at the same price point(s) would make for a great day today.



    I'd even pay up to $100 more (yes, I know that many have been reporting a $79 increase across the line), but it would be GREAT if Apple with it's deep pockets uses this opprtunity to absolutely CRUSH any 10" form factor "competition" at the current price points.



    Then onto kicking Jeff Bezos in the nuts over at Amazon With a 7"ish iPad just in time for back to school or before the holidays.
  • Reply 10 of 15
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dunks View Post


    If Apple stores provide free wifi what would be the point of in store LTE exactly?



    Err... to test drive LTE for potential customers, maybe... no?

    Not everyone come to Apple Store just to use their wifi, you know?
  • Reply 11 of 15
    dfilerdfiler Posts: 3,420member
    Any speculation as to what the tech would be doing at the store? Exactly what kind of equipment would they be working on? If it is just a 4G hotspot, wouldn't it simply need to be plugged into the network?
  • Reply 12 of 15
    wingswings Posts: 261member
    "A 4G-capable iPad could potentially reach download speeds up to 10 times faster than current 3G models."



    So you can now watch your movie in fast forward.
  • Reply 13 of 15
    Apple might even move to a subsidized pricing model.
  • Reply 14 of 15
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by winstein2010 View Post


    Apple might even move to a subsidized pricing model.



    No. Filler.
  • Reply 15 of 15
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dunks View Post


    If Apple stores provide free wifi what would be the point of in store LTE exactly?



    I think it is part of Apples partnership with the carriers. Apple wants visitors to have excellent cell coverage inside the their store both for voice and data. Many people already have iPhones in their pocket and if they receive or place a call Apple doesn't want calls dropped or poor data connections causing people to complain out loud about their user experience while inside the store, as that could adversely influence potential shoppers' buying decisions. The provided cell service comes with LTE.
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