Apple wins permission to start testing 5G for future iPhones & other devices
Apple has secured a U.S. Federal Communications Commission license to test 5G cellular, setting the stage for the technology arriving in future iPhones and iPads, and likely other products as well.
As anticipated Apple will test on the 28 and 39 gigahertz commercial bands, DSLReports said on Thursday. The company will conduct millimeter wave experiments in two places near its offices in Milpitas, Calif.
"These assessments will provide engineering data relevant to the operation of devices on wireless carriers' future 5G networks," Apple said in its original application.
While a 2018 "iPhone 9" is probably Apple's main interest, the bandwidth possible with the technology -- upwards of 1 gigabit per second -- may help support more radical hardware. The company is for example rumored to be working on augmented reality glasses, which would benefit from high-speed data tracking and overlays.
The company is also developing its own self-driving car platform, possibly even a full-fledged vehicle. 5G could ensure instant access to vital navigation data and sync with other cars on the road.
As anticipated Apple will test on the 28 and 39 gigahertz commercial bands, DSLReports said on Thursday. The company will conduct millimeter wave experiments in two places near its offices in Milpitas, Calif.
"These assessments will provide engineering data relevant to the operation of devices on wireless carriers' future 5G networks," Apple said in its original application.
While a 2018 "iPhone 9" is probably Apple's main interest, the bandwidth possible with the technology -- upwards of 1 gigabit per second -- may help support more radical hardware. The company is for example rumored to be working on augmented reality glasses, which would benefit from high-speed data tracking and overlays.
The company is also developing its own self-driving car platform, possibly even a full-fledged vehicle. 5G could ensure instant access to vital navigation data and sync with other cars on the road.
Comments
10th iPhone: iPhone 7: 2016
11th iPhone: iPhone 7S: 2017
12th iPhone: iPhone 8: 2018
13th iPhone: iPhone 8S: 2019
14th iPhone: iPhone 9: 2020
After all, when are the telecoms even thinking about beginning 5G rollout? It may well be 2020 before we see it.
It's true that 5G won't see wide deployment for a long time, but other phonemakers are already beginning support.
Oh, is the standard finalized? Or is it just another case of Samsung hopping on a bandwagon before everyone else (cough4Gcough)?
I'm kinda in agreement with repressthis on this one. I can't for the life of me figure out why Apple would squander an anniversary marketing opportunity with some lame "iPhone 8" nomenclature. If commentators are using that as shorthand for an anniversary edition, and don't really expect it to be called "iPhone 8", I guess I can understand that.
Personally, I think "iPhone AE" or "iPhone X", or something that denotes the anniversary would be awesome.
Apple really named themselves into a corner with this crap. They should have dropped the numbers half a decade ago. iPhone (2018), iPhone (2017), and iPhone (2016) all on sale simultaneously. Not that hard.
Meh. I certainly don't think it's any worse than "iPhone 8" for the "11th iPhone". And why on earth would they emulate Microsoft by naming things after the year. Now that is silly.