It pretty much sounds like a given that we’ll be getting a 2048×1536 Retina display, which means, at 9.7-inches it won’t be quite as dense as the iPhone 4S but you’ll likely be holding it further away from your eyes, effectively making the difference minor.

LTE 4G networking is harder to pin down. The Qualcomm chipset sounds like it’s ready, but LTE simply isn’t very widespread yet, and Apple has huge international sales. Apple currently offers three iPad 2 models: Wi-Fi, EVDO Rev. A, and GSM/HSPA. Could they switch to Wi-Fi, EVDO Rev A/HSPA+, and make the 3rd SKU an LTE model for carriers that support it (most importantly, Verizon?)

Quad-core Android tablets were announced earlier this year, does Apple have to meet that latest processor escalation? More cores open the door to more features, for example AirPlay uses the second core to mirror the iPad 2 display, but do we really need 4 yet? Since Apple controls both hardware and software, they can optimize the heck out of their processor and get performance that often feels better than greater spec’ed competition already.

Likewise 1GB of RAM and 128GB of NAND Flash memory storage. 1GB of RAM, especially with a Retina display, may open the door to even more spectacular gaming, especially if the GPU is also getting a boost as expected. The multitasking system could do with a healthy amount of available RAM as well. With Apple going to the iCloud it may not seem like on-device storage is as big a deal as it used to be, but with iBooks 2 making textbooks a reality, with the possibility of 1080p video support on the horizon, and with truly epic games needing a lot of storage space, it’s definitely something that should be on the radar.

Almost 3 years later, and USB ports and SDHC card readers are still something we get asked about. Apple has their Camera kit dongle and that’s likely all they’ll ever have. Wireless is their future for files. Thunderbolt, on the other hand, would be great for moving the largest of the large files, at least until next-generation Wi-Fi is ready. But Thunderbolt is based on PCI Express architecture, the kind you find in PCs, and doesn’t sound like it’s iPad compatible yet.

Better cameras, however, are certainly iPad compatible. Granted, few people will be replacing tiny, pocketable point-and-shoots with iPads, but the current cameras are barely serviceable. Facetime HD up front feels like table stakes at this point, and something in the 5 to 8 megapixel range would be much better in back. If either the Retina display or LTE radio requires a bigger battery, making iPad 3 even slightly thicker, hopefully Apple has the depth to put a decent piece of glass in as well.

The iMore Nation are a demanding people and we make no apologies for that. We love our Apple devices because they’re typically built beautifully and just work, and we’re going to keep Apple’s feet to the fire. Vote in the poll up top, and then tell us what’s most important to you and why in the comments below!

The iPad 3 could be coming packed with a quad-core A6 chipset and support LTE speeds according to a source who claims to have access to the unannounced, unreleased device. BGR reports:

From the data in the photos, which contain the output from an iPad 3 using a development and debug tool called iBoot, we can infer plenty of information about the upcoming iPad 3. [...] The new processor will also apparently be a quad-core model, making the upcoming iPad 3 the fastest iOS device ever, we have been told.

The veracity of the data is, of course, uncertain. Previous rumors have claimed that iPad 3 production has started, as well as Foxconn issuing plans to build 5 new iPad production facilities in Brazil.

The A6 chipset noted in the debug tool, if accurate, carries a model number of S5L8945X with the iPad units themselves carrying model numbers of J1 and J2 (iPad 3,1 and iPad 3.2 respectively). This falls in line with what was uncovered in iOS 5.1 beta code. The rumor calls for one model being WiFi-only, and the other adding full support for LTE/CDMA/GSM. This should allow for Apple to release just one SKU across data-equipped iPad units for all major carriers, rather than a special LTE model for the limited markets that currently support it.

As far as rumors of when the iPad 3 might hit the streets, speculation of a March 2012 seem likely with Apple sticking to their historical release cycle, but we won’t know for sure until Apple makes the announcement.

Source: BGR

While Apple CEO Tim Cook had a lot to say during the Apple Q1 2012 conference call, when asked about 4G LTE, bigger screen, and whether or not the mobile market had become a two-horse race between Android and iOS, Cook played his cards close to his chest.

Cook said he didn’t think the mobile market was like Mac vs. Windows, where despite 20 quarters of consecutive growth, Apple’s share remained in the single digits. In mobile, citing recent metrics reports, Cook said Apple and Google’s Android remained in a tight race. Further, he wouldn’t discount Microsoft either, saying that there was a horse in Redmond that always suits up and always runs, and will keep running.

We’ll ignore how many other horses there are, we just want to be the lead one. 

Cook also managed to skirt question about Apple’s LTE future and larger displays for iPhone, saying that with 37 million iPhones sold last quarter, customers appear happy with the current product.

Personally, we’re just waiting to see what iPhone 5 is packing later this year.

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple has begun production of the iPad 3 for an expected March 2012 release.

[iPad 3] will sport a high-definition screen, run a faster processor and work with next-generation wireless networks, according to three people familiar with the product. [..] The tablet will use a quad-core chip, an enhancement that lets users jump more quickly between applications, two of the people said.

The March date is spot on, and the 2042×1536 Retina display screen is an easy bet at this point. Apple could go quad-core with the A6 chipset as competing tablets have recently done, but Apple’s integrated hardware/software approach has thus far let them do more with less.

LTE still feels like a wildcard to me. While Verizon has better deployment and AT&T is starting to ramp up, Sprint and T-Mobile are behind and international carriers are hit and miss (and just like 3G GSM, frequencies are not always compatible).

The Retina display and A6 alone will make for a compelling upgrade, but for those in LTE areas, it could make it a no brainer.

Source: Bloomberg

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Georgia, Rene, Seth, and Engadget’s Richard Lai talk iPad 3 on LTE, iOS code names, Facebook buying Gowalla, Infinity Blade II, Apple vs Samsung and Motorola, and Office for iPad. This is iPad Live!

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With Verizon leading the charge, and AT&T following on, Sprint has just elaborated on their own plans to launch an LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G network beginning next year.

Sprint plans to launch 4G LTE on its 1900 MHz spectrum by midyear 2012 and complete the network build-out by the end of 2013. By the end of 2013, Sprint’s 4G coverage footprint is expected to cover more than 250 million people.

LTE is often considered true 4G (or at least truer until we get full voice-over-LTE), with theoretical downloads speeds of 50 Mbps or more. Given the availability of proper chipsets that allow for both thin devices and long battery life, Apple is rumored to be considering an LTE iPhone for 2012 as well.

Source: Sprint

Just like our good friends over at The Cell Phone Junkie have been saying pretty much all along, the Wall Street Journal‘s own people familiar with those briefed on the sources are now chiming in with WiMax- and LTE- (Long Term Evolution) busting reports of their own.

[The next generation iPhone] won’t operate on long-term evolution or WiMAX fourth-generation networks.

Which has always made sense, given the proper chipset for lower-powered LTE won’t be ready until 2012 and WiMax has no real footprint outside of Sprint.

Still, iPhone 5/iPhone 4S should support HSPA+, which AT&T, Rogers, et. al will still call 4G anyway… But that will leave Verizon — and Sprint, if they get the next generation iPhone today as expected — stuck on the slower, more limited EVDO Rev A for another year. Would that weigh into your carrier choice at all?

Source: Wall Street Journal

We love our TiPb Nation tipsters and commenters because nothing gets past you guys — including screenshots in the App Store of the new Dolphin Browser for iPhone that have the words Verizon and 4G in the top bar.

Did the developer somehow have access to pre-release Verizon LTE hardware from Apple, and some bumbling Will Farrell type intern forgot to remove the SIM card for one screenshot? Did a similarly bumbling Tina Fey style apprentice App Store reviewer fail to notice it during the infamous approval process and let it into the store?

Or is this just some really messed up, confusing screenshot (or deliberate Photoshop job), with 4G in the wrong place… that also got past the developer and the App Store reviewer and onto the store?

Let’s be blunt — if you’re not in the TiPb Forums you’re missing out on the best darn discussion in iPhone and iPad today, so head on over and register now!

• iOS 5 beta 6 bug report
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See you in the forums!

Right now iPhone 5, like any dark matter, can only be observed by its effects on others, including the log traces it leaves and the cases manufacturers leak. This time it’s TechCrunch, citing an undisclosed developer who’s iOS app, points to records of a never-before-seen dual-mode GSM/CDMA world phone.

The logs show that the app has been briefly tested by a handful of people using what is almost certainly an iPhone 5, evidently running iOS 5, sporting two distinct sets of mobile network codes (MNC) / mobile country codes (MCC). Those codes can be used to uniquely identify mobile carriers.

Sure enough, some registrations for the app – which the developer also asked not to be named – were logged from a new Apple device, using the MNC/MCC codes from both Verizon and AT&T.

Apple has had theoretical support for a world phone since switching to Qualcomm chips, but previous iPhone 4 models haven’t enabled the feature. Turning it on would likely be bad news for those hoping iPhone 5 would sport LTE (the faster and closest to a “real” next generation wireless technology). HSPA+, a not-quite-as-fast but far more widespread “4G” protocol looks like a safer bet, though it would leave Verizon behind on the same EVDO Rev A speed the current iPhone supports. (See TiPb’s guide to wireless network terminology for more on what this all means.)

In other words, Verizon could advertise a world phone but AT&T could say they have a 4G iPhone.

[TechCrunch]

A while back TiPb heard something that sounded so outlandish, so beyond the realm of possibility, that we decided not to publish it — that AT&T’s 4G LTE launch hero device could, in fact, be the iPhone. It still sounds outlandish, even though there hasn’t been word one about which phone AT&T will launch with, but given the availability of the logical Qualcomm LTE chipset, it still seems beyond the realm of possibility.

But BGR recently caught glimpse of LTE references in a carrier-test build of iOS firmware, and now Engadget has heard that LTE equipment in the 700MHz and AWS frequencies is being installed in major Apple Stores in the US… by AT&T.

I’m not getting my hopes up, nor should you. AT&T could still launch an Android device and Apple could still wait for 2012 for an LTE powered iPhone 6. But as Hans Gruber said in Die Hard, Christmas is the time for miracles.

UPDATE: 9to5Mac says Verizon is also installing LTE equipment at Apple Stores. [9to5Mac]

[Engadget

There are a couple of conflicting stories this weekend about wether or not Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5 — which could be set for launch on October 7 — will have 4G LTE wireless networking built in.

BGR claims to have caught a glimpse at a plist file (preferences list) from an iPhone carrier that shows some interesting LTE info:

BGR has obtained evidence of an internal iOS test build from one of Apple’s major carrier partners, and buried in the firmware is a property list (.plist file) for LTE. This doesn’t necessarily mean every Apple device that’s about to be released will feature an embedded 4G LTE modem, but it certainly means Apple isn’t sitting on the sidelines as 4G LTE networks continue to roll out around the world.

The Cell Phone Junkie, however, points out that the chips Apple probably wants to use still won’t be ready until 2012:

Typically, a switch in chips would require a 3-4 month production process on Qualcomm’s part for the initial order. This would mean if the iPhone 5 was using anything other than the MDM6600 for an October release, we would have likely heard about a leak (like the one from the The Street for it launch) for the switch to something different. And unless Apple is pushing the device launch into early 2012, I don’t see a chip switch happening this year.

So how do we reconcile these apparently conflicting reports? Apple almost certainly has LTE iPhones in the labs so they no doubt have iOS builds that can run the radio. It’s possible the plist entry exists for lab testing but not for real world use.

That means we’d still get an HSPA+ “4G” iPhone 5 in 2011, but would still be waiting on an LTE 4G iPhone 6 in 2012.

Unless of course Apple’s managed to work a miracle and decided to make iPhone 5 the first AT&T LTE device…

[BGR, The Cell Phone Junkie]

According to Reuters, a consortium of tech companies, including Apple, BlackBerry maker RIM, Microsoft, EMC, Sony, and Ericsson have won the auction to acquire Nortel’s mammoth $4.5 billion dollar mobile patent portfolio. How much of that will come from Apple is currently unknown, though RIM is on the line for $770 million and Ericsson, $340 million. The companies are expected to pool the patents and use them both to protect against patent lawsuits and, of course, launch lawsuits of their own.

The patents cover “wireless, wireless 4G, data networking, optical, voice, Internet and semiconductor technologies”, with the LTE 4G patents expected to become extremely valuable as networks and devices are upgraded to that standard.

If you noticed one major mobile company conspicuous by their absence, you’re not alone. Google appears not to have been part of the winning bid, which is perplexing since, as a new entrant in mobile, they have one of the weakest existing patent portfolios.

“Google lost an unprecedented opportunity to acquire a major bargaining chip that would strengthen it at the mobile industry’s intellectual property negotiating table.”

“I’m afraid it won’t get a similar opportunity in quantitative and qualitative terms any time soon.”

Android manufacturers are already paying Microsoft licensing fees for Android, and are being sued by Apple. Android developers are being sued by Lodsys and while Apple has filed to intervene in the iOS-related lawsuits, Google is still missing in action.

What that means going forward is hard to say, but manufacturer and developer confidence is part of the currency of any platform and it needs to be invested in and protected.

[Reuters]

LulzSec dumped one last load of AT&T documents on the internet, which though outdated and never meant for public consumption, does give some insight into some of the things they were at least considering — like speed and session-based pricing for their upcoming LTE network.

But one interesting tidbit is AT&T’s apparent plan to market LTE data with various speed tiers, which it’s calling “Speed Based Pricing.” Verizon’s about to switch to tiered pricing for its data plans (3G and 4G), but that’s based on total consumption, not speed. The basic idea would be pay more, and you get faster LTE speeds. Not exactly a new premise — cable companies have been doing this for Internet access for a while now, but it’d be an interesting change in the mobile space.

You could also pay for a session, or temporary speed boost if you needed it. Again, this is something broadband providers have been doing for a while.

Of course, we probably won’t get our hands on LTE until iPhone 6 in 2012, but it’s still interesting to see where the industry might be by then. Any of you have an interest in speed or session based pricing, or are data caps complicated enough already?

[LulzSec via Android Central]

The WSJ Blogs are throwing fuel on the fire on the rumors of a second iPad launch this year, but adding an LTE 4G twist.

“While most vendors appear fixated on matching the specs and features of iPad2, our checks suggest Apple will release iPad3 in time for the holiday season, sporting a better display and LTE capabilities.”

Daring Fireball first of thought out loud about the possibility of an updated iPad 2 or full on iPad 3 coming this year, and TiPb has heard a very similar story. Will it come to pass? Who knows. Apple doesn’t pre-announce so they can make up their minds any time.

But it definitely sounds like the possibility is on the table. What do you think, could iPad go LTE before iPhone? And would Apple do it with anything less than the same 10 hour battery life?

[WSJ Blogs]

AT&T has stated they’ll be deploying LTE across 5 cities this summer, paving the way for a 4G LTE iPhone which is expected to come in 2012.

AT&T Inc. said it plans to launch its super-fast wireless network in five cities this summer as it looks to catch up to Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless. The company earlier this year said it would speed up its deployment of the network, underscoring the importance of keeping pace in the wireless speed game.

AT&T LTE rollout will initially kick off in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio — a modest deployment compared to Verizon, but at least it’s a start. We already know Apple won’t be hopping onto the LTE bandwagon until everything is ready, but this is a good sign that the wheels are now in motion.

AT&T recently tested their 4G network seeing speeds of around 28Mbps down and 10Mbps up, which should be a force to be reckoned with once coverage is adequate across the US.

So when it comes time for a 4G iPhone 6, who will you go with, AT&T or Verizon?

[WSJ]

GigaOM was able to play around with the trial LTE network that AT&T has setup at their Foundry space in Plano, TX, which just might be used by iPhone 6 in 2012. They were able to reach blazingly fast speeds, beating out Verizon’s LTE performance without a hitch.

the highlight of the lab was that the Foundry is home to a trial Long Term Evolution network. I asked for a demo and got one. The speeds provided on the download side were about 28.87 Mbps, and were about 10.4 Mbps on the upload side.

The technology behind their test LTE network consists of both 700 MHz spectrum as well as the AWS band they already own (and want to get more of by purchasing T-Mobile USA).

Keep in mind that AT&T’s LTE network isn’t going to see the light of day for some time, but it’s also important to note the speeds they saw were reflective of ‘real-world’ performance. By comparison, Verizon users see on average ~10Mbps down and ~5Mbps up, so that’s a pretty significant difference in speed.

Are you excited as we are to see the iPhone taking advantage of these 4G speeds on AT&T’s network down the road? And will the new network finally bring with it reliability to match?

[GigaOM]

Forbes reports that Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek has proudly entered our iPhone 5 release pool , adding his voice to the many others that claim Apple will be releasing the iPhone 5 in September. Sort of. Misek states Apple will be going with ‘iPhone 4S’ as the name, following in the footsteps of the 3G to 3GS upgrade, and will not support LTE because the Qualcomm chipset isn’t ready just yet. He also believes Sprint and T-Mobile will be onboard at launch.

According to our industry checks, the device should be called iPhone 4S and include minor cosmetic changes, better cameras, A5 dual-core processor, and HSPA+ support [...] As for LTE, he says the Qualcomm LTE chipset Apple would have used “is currently not achieving yields sufficient for inclusion in the iPhone 5.”

But he also says that “industry checks indicate Apple will likely announce Sprint, T-Mobile, and China Mobile as new carriers.”

Adding China Mobile would further propel Apple’s presence in the Chinese smartphone market. Rumors of the ‘iPhone 4S’ name picked up last month when some developers were reportedly receiving beefed up iPhone 4 units for testing purposes.

Expectations that the next iPhone will be released in September have been mounting, but Apple could always have a surprise up their sleeve at WWDC in June.

What are your thoughts?

[Forbes]

Apple doesn’t currently make or market an iPhone 4G but given recent North American marketing shenanigans by the carriers, they might just get one sooner than anticipated. There was a time when 4G applied to really fast, really next generation mobile connectivity, like fully implemented voice/data LTE approaching 100 Mbps. Then Sprint launched Wi-Max as 4G. Then T-Mobile rebranded HSPA+ as 4G. Then Verizon deployed early stage LTE as 4G. Then AT&T rebranded their slower HSPA+ as 4G. 100 Mbps got shoved aside, and 21 Mbps, even 14.4 Mbps became “4G”. Canadian carriers, which had previously called their 14.4 Mbps and even 21 Mbps HSPA+ networks “3G” have recently rebranded them to “4G” as well so as not to seem old and outdated. (For more on what all these terms mean, check out our networking glossary.)

No doubt it’s easier to change a name than change a network, and easier to slap the letters 4G onto a phone than actually getting a real, power efficient, lightning fast 4G radio into one. But that’s no excuse.

Verizon is arguably the closest with their early stage LTE deployment and phone like the Thunderbolt that don’t get great battery life but do get amazing speeds.

My counterpart over at Android Central, Phil Nickinson has done a review of the Verizon LTE HTC Thunderbolt (and also told the carriers to kindly cut out the 4G smoke in our eyes), while PreCentral.net’s Derek Kessler has just reviewed the AT&T HSPA+ HP Veer 4G.

The iPhone isn’t expected to go LTE until 2012 but iPhone 5 might just go HSPA+ this fall. (14.4 or 21 Mbps, who knows?) And guess what, AT&T will probably call it “4G”…

…Especially since the CDMA version on Verizon will still be “3G” EVDO Rev A for another generation.

That’s a huge competitive advantage, but hugely confusing for users.

Mickey Papillon nailed the Verizon iPhone and the chipset it would be using a year before it was announced, so when he says LTE just might be coming to iPhone 6 in 2012 via the Qualcomm MDM9615, we’re going to pay attention.

Back in February, Qualcomm unveiled it’s next generation of chipsets, including the MDM9615. This chip will provide enhancements in modem performance, power consumption, board area and BOM expense, exactly what Apple is looking for in its devices. The 9615 will support LTE (FDD and TDD), DC-HSPA+, EV-DO Rev-B and TD-SCDMA. This single chip [will likely live alingside] what we will all know as the A6 processor, and will be available in late 2011, perfect timing for Apple to start testing and ready them for production.

(If you’re not familiar with all those telecommunications terms, check out our networking glossary.)

So February 2011 introduced the stand-alone Verizon iPhone, fall 2011 will bring the dual-mode iPhone 5, and 2012 will crank this up with an LTE iPhone 6?

Sounds good to me. What do you think?

[The Cell Phone Junkie]

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Rene, Georgia, and Mickey Papillon, the Cell Phone Junkie, discuss more iPhone 5 rumors, iOS 4.3.1 bug fixes, the AT&T T-Mobile buyout and what it means for iPhone, when will we get LTE, AT&T’s war on Jailbreak tethering, lawsuits, Google, #dickbar, and more! This is iPhone Live!

Show notes and all the week’s iPhone news after the break!

Announcements

• White Diamonds artistic crystal cases for iPhone and iPad [Give away]

iPhone 5

• iPhone 5 NFC: Yes, no, maybe so?!
• More iPhone 5 metal back, 4-inch screen, NFC rumors

iOS 4.3.1

• iOS 4.3.1 coming within 2 weeks?

Carriers

• UPDATED: AT&T acquiring T-Mobile US, what does it mean for iPhone?
• AT&T to use T-Mobile spectrum for LTE
• UPDATED: AT&T cracking down on jailbroken MyWi users?
• More on AT&T’s war on Jailbreak tethering
• Second AT&T iPhone 4 commercial again shows off simultaneous voice and data

News

• Apple release three new “if you don’t have an iPhone…” ads
• Apple’s new iPhone ads should be called App Store, iTunes Store, iBooks Store
• Head of Mac OS X software, Bertrand Serlet is leaving Apple
• Apple to extend AirPlay video streaming licence to third parties?
• Microsoft announces remote device management… for iPhone and iPad?
• Apple sues Amazon over App Store trademark, Microsoft sues B&N over Android
• Sony Xperia Play videos get NSFW on iPhone!

Apps

• Google updates Latitude and Places apps, check-ins now included
• Controversy over the Apple approved ‘Anti-Gay app’
• Angry Birds Rio for iPhone, iPad released!
• TiPb Asks: What Twitter app are you using for your iPhone?

Hosts

• @reneritchie
• @GeorgiaTiPb
• @TCPJ_Mickey

Credits

Thanks to the TiPb iPhone accessory store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You — iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

AT&T has confirmed they’ll be using their newly announced T-Mobile US acquisition — more specifically T-Mo’s 1700MHz AWS spectrum (currently providing 3G and “4G” HSPA+) — for a bigger, better LTE rollout (“4GS?”). See the slide above for details.

Apple hasn’t announced any plans for an LTE iPhone or iPad yet but as the technology matures and coverage improves they almost certainly will. Meanwhile we can hope for better HSPA+ support in iPhone 5, as current iPhone and iPad radios max out at 7.2Mbps.

(See TiPb’s guide to wireless networking terms for what all that alphanumeric soup means.)

We spent quite a bit of time talking about this, and other elements of the deal, on iPad Live! last night so if you missed it, be sure to check it out when it hits iTunes and RSS tonight.

If you’re a current AT&T iPhone user, do you think the new, combined network might finally resolve the long-standing coverage and connection problems? Does it give you any greater faith in a solid LTE rollout?

[AT&T via Android Central]

Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, Verizon Chief Executive Daniel Mead addressed reports of slower than expected Verizon iPhone sales by re-iterating that the launch was the most successful in their history. While he wouldn’t give specific figures prior to their next earnings releases, he said they carefully planned online sales and a staggered rollout to spread out purchasing.

Mr. Mead said more than 60% of iPhone sales occurred online. That heavy activity online contributed to short lines on launch day, which were noted by many news outlets. “If we had not done online, you would have seen a much different flow in the pictures,” he said. In a few days, the company will double the number of stores that sell the iPhone, going from 4,000 to 8,000.

They also expect Apple to eventually offer an iPhone and iPad that work on their 4G LTE network:

“You’ll see more coming from Apple on LTE,” he said. “They understand the value proposition of LTE and I feel very confident that they are going to be a part of it.”

AT&T iPhone comes out the same time of year, every year, when contracts are ready for renewal and/or AT&T offers early renewal. The was no cycle for the Verizon iPhone — unless by pure chance your contract was up or you don’t care about subsidies many people are probably waiting until their next upgrade — maybe even waiting for iPhone 5.

Perhaps Verizon staggering the availability, doing pre-orders and opening online orders early lowered lineups, but everything about the launch disfavored lines.

We’ll know for sure when the numbers come out, but what’s your hunch?

[WSJ]

China Mobile Chairman, Wang Jianzhou, was quoted yesterday saying that Apple will support next-gen TD-LTE.

These two years we have been discussing the issue. Right now the situation is moving forward. Apple has made it clear they will support TD-LTE.

China Mobile, has been negotiating with Apple for years, to develop a TD-SCDMA supported iPhone for their current 3G network, and TD-LTE for their future 4G network.

China Mobile hasn’t signed a deal with Apple yet because Apple doesn’t currently support TD-SCDMA, which China Mobile use for their 3G network, but with Apple’s new CDMA phone for Verizon, Wang hopes that Apple will consider supporting TD-SCDMA.

We hope that when they develop the next-generation models, since Apple can create CDMA, they can also consider developing TD-SCDMA.

The iPhone is currently only available in China on China Unicom, which lacks the subscriber base that China Mobile has.

Given the size of the Chinese market and Apple’s huge growth there over the last few quarters, any chance Apple might support LTE sooner than we think?

[Reuters]

Reading up on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Apple TV and wondering what all those data specifications and cellular networking terms mean? From 2G to WDCMA, 802.11 to Bluetooth, we’ve got you — and every wireless term we can think of — covered below!

For even more iOS and Apple-related terms see our complete iPhone and iPad glossary. And as always, if we’re missing anything, add additions and corrections in the comments below!

[Special thanks to The Cell Phone Junkie, Mickey Papillon for help compiling this list!]

• 2G: Second generation data networking used by iPhone and iPad. Think of this like old-fashioned dial-up modems. (see EDGE.)

• 3G: Third generation data networking used by iPhone and iPad. Think of this like base level broadband Internet (cable/DSL). 3G is symbolized on the iPhone and iPad by 3G next to the carrier logo. (see HSPA and EVDO.)

• 4G: Forth generation data networking. Also a marketing term used by Sprint for WiMax, T-Mobile for HSPA+, and AT&T for HSPA+. Think of this as super-fast broadband Internet (cable/fiber). (See HSPA, HSPA+, LTE)

• 802.11: The standard used for WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), typically referred to as Wi-Fi, connections on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. While older models supported only 802.11b/g, 2010 models added support for the faster, longer range 802.11n standard. (Only iPad supports 802.11n on the clearer 5Mhz frequency, however.)

• A2DP: Advanced Audio Distribution Profile is a Bluetooth standard used to transmit and receive stereo music. Added to iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad in iOS 3. It’s what lets you send iPod music to your wireless stereo Bluetooth headset.

• Airplane Mode: A Setting on iPhone and iPad that turns off all radios, including cellular voice, data, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Called Airplane Mode because these radios are typically required to be turned off while on an airplane.

• AVCTP: Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol allows for the transmission of basic music controls between devices and accessories. Only properly supported for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad since iOS 4. It’s what lets you play, pause, fast forward, rewind, and skip through music and video via wireless stereo Bluetooth headsets.

• Bluetooth: Named after a Danish King (seriously), Bluetooth is a wireless technology used for exchanging short-range (under 30-feet) data between electronic devices. iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad support Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for better security and simpler pairing. Apple currently supports Bluetooth for wireless phone headsets, stereo headsets, keyboard connections, and data tethering.

• CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access is an underlying network standard and the common abbreviation for CDMA2000, the technology used by Verizon and Sprint in the US.

• CDMA2000: The networking technology used by Verizon and Sprint. A single CDMA tower typically has a longer range and thus provide greater coverage than a single GSM tower.

• EDGE: Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution, also called 2G, 2.5G or 2.75G depending on the data speed, is an older data network used by carriers like AT&T. The original iPhone was EDGE-only. Current iPhones can use EDGE when 3G is not available (or on T-Mobile in the US where 3G frequencies aren’t compatible). Real world EDGE speeds max out around 150Kbps and do not allow simultaneous voice and data (calls will not come through while using EDGE data). EDGE is symbolized on the iPhone and iPad by the uppercase letter E. iPhone 4 and iPad support EDGE on the 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz frequencies.

• EVDO: EVolution Data Optimized is the 3G networking technology used by CDMA carriers like Verizon. EVDO Rev A can achieve speeds up to 3.1 Mbps but cannot handle simultaneous voice and data, but does allow incoming calls to come through during an active data session. (Answering an incoming call will shut off the data connection.) EVDO Rev B can handle voice and data but is not planned for deployment by any US carriers. iPhone 4 supports CDMA EV-DO Rev. A on 800, 1900 MHz.

• GPRS: General Packet Radio Service is the oldest and slowest form of data networking available to GSM iPhones and iPads. Data rates are typically below 50 Kbps. GPRS is symbolized on the iPhone and iPad by the lowercase letter o.

• GSM: Global System for Mobile communication is the underlying technology standard used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the US and the majority of carriers in Europe and around the world.

• HSPA: High Speed Packet Access is a fast form of 3G data networking. The iPhone and iPad support HSPA up to 7.2 Mbps (AT&T currently supports up to 14 Mbps in some areas). Typically split into HSDPA (download) and HSUPA (uplink/upload). iPhone 4 and iPad support UMTS/HSPA on the 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz frequencies.

• HSPA+: Enhanced High Speed Packet Access is a faster form of 3G data networking, now called 4G in T-Mobile and AT&T’s marketing. Apple will support HSPA+ in 2011. Top speeds can reach 56 Mbps. Bell and Telus currently offer 21 Mbps HSPA+.

• LTE: Long Term Evolution is a 4G networking technology currently being deployed by Verizon and scheduled to be deployed by AT&T, Canadian carriers, and others. Theoretical speeds are measured in the hundreds of Mbps but initial implementations haven’t reached those yet. Likewise initial implementations only use LTE for data while future versions could be pure IP-based for both voice and data. Neither iPhone nor iPad yet support LTE.

• Personal Hotspot: Introduced with the Verizon iPhone and iOS 4.3 it replaces Tethering and, on iPhone 4, adds the ability to share cellular data over a Wi-Fi connection with up to 5 additional devices. Availability will depend on carriers and some may/will charge extra for it. Think of it as a built-in MiFi or the ability to turn your iPhone into a mini mobile Wi-Fi router.

• Tethering: Sharing your iPhone’s cellular data connection with your laptop via USB (dock cable) or wirelessly via Bluetooth. Available since iOS 3 though AT&T only chose to support it with iOS 4. Not available on all carriers and some carriers charge extra for it. Replaced in iOS 4.3 with Personal Hotspot.

• UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System is a 3G, transitioning to 4G networking technology. WCDMA (including HSPA) is part of UMTS.

• WCDMA: Wideband Code Division Multiple Access is a UTMS technology which, while easily confused with the CDMA network used by Verizon, is actually associated with GSM networks like HSPA.

AT&T isn’t getting an LTE iPhone 4G any time soon but they are launching 4G, in fact — look up, look down — they just did! Actually, what they did was call HSPA+ “4G” because it goes faster than regular old HSPA 3G and because T-Mobile is already doing that and Sprint is calling WiMax “4G”, and Verizon is calling early LTE “4G”, so why not? And when real LTE 4G comes out, that could be called 4G as well (though I bet they’ll call it 5G to have even more Gs, because that’s better, right?)

I got to watch a little of the brouhaha unfold this morning live in the CES hallways and after talking it over with some fellow bloggers the nut seems to be this — AT&T might get an HSPA+ iPhone “4G” later this year or next year or maybe they’ll get an LTE iPhone 4G in 2012, but we don’t know and the terms are so deliberately marketing skewed it doesn’t mean much anyway at this point. (iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 only supports HSPA 7.2, not the much faster HSPA+ 21 carriers like Bell and Telus have been offering for a while already.)

All you really have to know is this — future iPhones will be faster, most years by a little, once in a while by a lot.

[Update: BGR says maybe HSPA+ "4G" next year]

We now return you to our regularly scheduled Verizon, iPhone 5, and iPad 2 rumors…

According to Reuters Apple and Google might be in a battle for the once mighty Nortel Networks patent portfolio, an acquisition that could help either of the two companies gain an edge in the mobile industry.

Nortel filed bankruptcy back in January of 2009 and the vast majority of their business has been sold off with the exception of their large number of patents that could aide in the improvements of mobile communications. There is said to be over 4,000 patents with a suspected value of around $1 billion and sources are saying Apple and Google both want a piece of these patents to protect themselves from giants such as Nokia in the courtroom.

There has been one round of bidding on those patents, this has been completed, said one source, who declined to be identified because the process is private. And what Nortel has done is divide the patents up into different lots covering different kinds of technologies.

The big draw for Apple and Google mainly seems to lie with Nortel’s patents on third and fourth generation wireless technology which include the coveted LTE (Long Term Evolution). Other patents that would greatly aide in either companys future include patents for wireless handsets and infrastructure, as well as optical and data networking, Internet, Internet advertising, voice and personal computers.

It is certainly a very significant stockpile of potent weaponry, and whoever lays their hands on it is going to gain significant advantage, said Alexander Poltorak, chief executive of General Patent Corp, which advises companies on intellectual property strategy and valuation but is not advising anyone involved in the Nortel patent auction.

Bids for these patents are due within the next few weeks and it will be interesting to see if either one of these giants companies ends up walking away with these patents in their hands. Can either company afford to allow the other to gain all of these seemingly important patents or might they both wind up maybe splitting some of the patents? We will have to wait and see what unfolds and hopefully whoever wins these patents will make good use of them and improve devices and operating systems for all of us consumers to enjoy.

[ Reuters via MacRumors ]

‘Tis the season for silly rumors and while it’s always unpossible (Google it) to rule out everything, the latest “Verizon is getting an LTE iPhone 4G right after Christmas” round seems a lot more naughty than nice.

The reasonable parts are reasonable enough: Verizon has been training for the iPhone launch, there’ll be an announcement after Christmas so as not to ruin AT&T’s last big holiday season hurrah, the Verizon iPhone is “100% cooked”, and… that’s where it seems to fall off the rails.

According a single “source familiar with the matter” (not Phil Schiller’s Twitter account, obviously), MacDailyNews reports:

• The Verizon iPhone will be LTE and exclusively so
• Verizon management already has it in their hands
• It’ll also be CDMA compatible, since LTE is limited
• iPhone 5 this summer is supposed to be LTE for everyone
• Steve Jobs is “pissed” carriers can’t “get their LTE $#1t together
• Apple is helping carriers build out their LTE more quickly by giving them cash

Apple spending money on carrier networks strikes me as a special kind of funny, but the thing all these rumors keep coming back to for me is technology. LTE is just starting to go live in only a few major markets. Apple waited an extra year before going to 3G. LTE is by no means international so that’s even fewer markets for a company that usually targets most of the world. First generation LTE radios are also going to be big and power hungry, and currently the hand off between LTE and CDMA is anything but elegant (you want to wait 2 minutes to get your fast signal back on the road?). There aren’t even any Android LTE phones on Verizon yet, and they’re typically riding the bleeding edge on WiMax and HSPA+.

Apple is all about user experience. I could well be wrong, but nothing in the LTE parts of this rumor sound like they’ll help user experience in any way.

There’s simply no compelling reason for Apple to launch an LTE iPhone 4G on Verizon — or anywhere — right now. And that’s usually the first sign Apple won’t do it.

[MacDailyNews, thanks Glenn!]

Verizon has officially launched their 4G LTE network with a website, press release… but no phones yet, and especially no LTE iPhone 4G. Non-iPhone LTE phones should come by mid-2011 though we’ll probably get some sneak peaks at CES this January. Rumors still heavily suggest an iPhone 4 on Verizon early next year but just like Apple stuck to EDGE for iPhone 2G, it’s assumed they’ll be sticking to CDMA for the Verizon iPhone.

This LTE (Long Term Evolution) deployment is just the beginning of the slow, steady march towards true, fantastically fast 4G connectivity and early radios will no doubt be battery hogging, network clogging, voice-hybrid technology. Based on previous behavior, Apple will avoid them and put out an LTE iPhone 4G (and iPad 4G) in 2012 or 2013 when the radios are more mature and the networks better built out.

Still, it’s fun to dream, and if you’re really hyped up about some LTE hyperspeed, Verizon has broadband plans ready to go:

4G LTE Mobile Broadband Data Plans, Devices and Coverage Areas Verizon Wireless customers can choose from two 4G LTE Mobile Broadband data plans: $50 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance or $80 monthly access for 10 GB monthly allowance, both with $10/GB overage. For laptop connectivity, two 4G LTE USB modems will be initially available: the LG VL600 is available at launch and the Pantech UML290 will be available soon, each $99.99 after $50 rebate with a new two-year agreement. Both USB modems provide backward-compatibility with Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. If laptop users travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, they will automatically stay connected on the company’s 3G network.

So you could always turn the tables and tether from your laptop while you wait… right?

[Android Central]

Apple might create a dual mode CDMA/GSM iPhone 5 based on Qualcomm chipset in 2011 and push LTE 4G support into 2012 and iPhone 6 according to TechCrunch contributor Steve Cheney:

First things first — the iPhone CDMA model due in January won’t support LTE. But here’s where it gets really interesting: sources tell me that the iPhone refresh in mid-2011 won’t support LTE either. Instead, Apple will produce a dual mode iPhone containing 3G flavors of GSM and CDMA, which operates on all carriers worldwide. If this holds true, Apple won’t support the LTE standard until some time in 2012.

TiPb, thanks to the Cell Phone Junky, Mickey Papillon, first hinted at Qualcomm supplying CDMA/GSM chipsets to Apple way back at CES 2010. That Apple would stick with 3G HSPA/EVDO through 2011 isn’t a huge surprise since the original iPhone eschewed 3G and remained EDGE only.

One iPhone across every carrier on the planet maintains their huge economies of scale, their iconic, singular iPhone brand, gives LTE time to shake out, and — of course — gives Apple something to offer as an upgrade in 2012.

So are you happy it looks like you’re getting your Verizon iPhone, angry you aren’t getting your super-fast LTE 4G iPhone, or both?

[TechCrunch]

Chief executive Ivan Seidenberg told investors he hopes Apple will build a Verizon iPhone for their upcomming 4G LTE network. He said nothing about an iPhone being built for Verizon’s current CDMA network, however, so contrast that as you will against recent rumors of Apple building 3 million CDMA iPhones in December for an early 2011 launch.

“We don’t feel like we have an iPhone deficit. We would love to carry it when we get there, but we have to earn it,” Seidenberg said.

“I think 4G will accelerate the process, and any other decisions Apple makes would be fine with us,” he added. “Hopefully, at some point Apple will get with the program.”

Either way, it will be an interesting couple of months comming up. Verizon is currently the largest carrier in the US and they have promised 4G LTE in 30 NFL markets by the end of 2010. AT&T is also working on their 4G network with promises of a mid-2011 rollout.

What do you think, will a Verizon iPhone happen soon on CDMA, will they wait for 4G, or will it just never happen? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

[Yahoo News, AppleInsider]

This is an official entry by BriantT in TiPb’s next top blogger contest. Think you have what it takes to join Team TiPb? Bring it!

Rumors are saying the iPhone is coming to Verizon as soon as this summer. On LTE. Which follow rumors saying, due to AT&T’s iPad deal, iPhone on Verizon was pushed back to 2011. Which followed rumors iPhone on Verizon would be the “one more thing” at the iPhone OS 4 event. Which followed–

Enough. Since 2007 all we’ve gotten is rumor after conflicted rumor that the iPhone is coming out on Verizon later in the year, no in 2012, no yesterday, no….

Forget it. There’re almost certainly CDMA and LTE iPhones deep beneath Cupertino in the Apple labs, just as there were Intel Macs for years before they were released. Apple can release a CDMA or LTE iPhone whenever they feel like it. Verizon can put a CDMA or LTE iPhone on their network whenever they feel like. That is, whenever they’re contractually allowed to and come to a financial arrangement (which could be tomorrow, or never, getting the idea yet?)

In other words, we’ll believe it when Steve holds it up on stage.

[Engadget]

According to the Wall Street Journal, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson took the opportunity, while speaking at an investor conference, to once again talk about the iPhone remaining on his network, and also touch on the iPad, problems in New York and San Francisco, variable pricing, and Apple’s new darling, the iPad.

• While Stephenson doesn’t seem to have insisted the iPhone would remain exclusive on AT&T, he does say the iPhone will remain an important part of their offerings for “quite some time”.
• He’s pleases with the steps AT&T is taking to address network problems and dropped calls in New York and San Francisco. “We’re hitting our metrics,” he said. “I feel really good about our path.” And call quality should improve by mid-2010.
• Stephenson claims AT&T is carrying half of US wireless traffic due to the amount of data use the iPhone generates. Carriers will have to eventually move to “variable pricing” so that heavy users are charged more and light users, less.
• AT&T is “not in a tremendous hurry” to roll-out their 4G network; it won’t be widely available, and there won’t be a good amount of products using it, until 2012

So if we mash that all together, even if the iPhone also pops up elsewhere, you’ll still be able to get it on an improved AT&T network with tiered pricing (perhaps similar to the iPad’s $15 for 256MB, $30 for unlimited) until LTE is wide spread in 2012 and the iPhone 4G replaces everything.

How’s that grab you?

AT&T has openly admitted that they have selected Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson as their LTE equipment suppliers and even better is the fact they are on track for a 2011 LTE rollout. 2011 is dead on with the information we gave you almost one year ago stating that LTE would in fact be here on AT&T in 2011 with the slight chance it would be delayed until 2012.

Now don’t fret when it comes to the existing 3G network that many of you have issues with. AT&T promises to keep working to improve that for you as well. They are not abandoning you… yet.

It is important to remember that sometimes plans do change, so don’t shoot the messenger if things don’t pan out next year.

[Via Engadget]

Fox News is reporting that AT&T outbid all other GSM providers in offering those reasonable $14.99 and $29.99 data plans for the iPad, and while Verizon and Apple are still discussing both the iPhone and iPad, there’s still nothing approaching an agreement in place.

What about all those rumors of Verizon getting the iPhone like, now?

the two companies are still “very much talking and plan to bring an iPhone and an iPad” to the CDMA network this year, following the expiration of AT&T’s exclusive agreement with Apple.

Still talking? These guys have been talking since 2006 before the launch of the first iPhone! Stop talking already and consummate the darn relationship — or walk away. When asked for comment about these on-going talks, Verizon spokesman Jeff Nelson said, “no comment,” so officially the company isn’t talking about the talks.

Bottom line then, it still could be later in the year, could be as far away as LTE next year or the year after.

[Fox News via Apple Insider]

Techcrunch reports sources claiming Verizon is racing to get 20-40 markets up and running on their 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network by Q1 2010 to coincide with an iPhone and iTablet launch.

Verizon is getting 60Mbps in 4G tests which is admittedly ZOMG fast, and since they’re going with LTE, this network will be theoretically compatible with AT&T and other GSM carriers also moving to the same technology.

And yes, it does sound too good to be true, but we won’t go all Leo Laporte on them just yet…

We know you want your iPhone on Verizon. But what about your iTablet. And are you willing to wait for LTE to get it? Let us know in our poll!

[Thanks Icebike for the tip!]

We’d mentioned previously that AT&T is upgrading the ole rabbit-eared 3G network for Apple’s upcoming next generation iPhone, and WMExperts covered it yesterday, but it’s worth surfacing the details:

AT&T Mobility VP Scott McElroy says software updates will double the downstream speed to 7.2 megabits per second and are already being tested in two markets [...] But AT&T’s looking past that and toward HSPA+, which will increase speeds to 21 Mb/s. And looking even further into the future, tests with the 4G LTE standard should begin sometime next year.

A helpful commenter, Will, gave us the skinny on those phat pipes after the last podcast:

• Plain ‘ol 3G refers to the original WCDMA specs which gives a max throughput of 384 kbps.
• 3.5G in the UMTS world commonly refers to HSDPA which is already up and running.
• “3.75G” – 3GPP Revision 6 – HSDPA (max of 14.4Mbps) and HSUPA (max of 5.76Mbps), known together as HSPA
• “3.9G” – 3GPP Revision 7 – HSDPA (max of 42Mbps) and HSUPA (max of 11Mbps), known as HSPA+

Thanks Will. Well, by any other name, we hope these upgrades not only give iPhone users blazing fast speeds, but better reliability. Doesn’t matter how fast you go if you can’t connect, right?

According to the Wall Street Journal (via Apple Insider), Verizon thinks that technology may finally give them a chance for a second bite at this not-at-all proverbial Apple after all. At least CEO Ivan Seidenberg really, really thinks so.

Ah, Verizon. First you said, “no thanks!” when Apple offered you the original iPhone. Then you thought you’d just wait for Steve Jobs to disappear and take his iPhone with him. Despite a huge segment of your users still clamoring for the iPhone, you gave them the BlackBerry Storm instead. When that fizzled, you looked to Nokia for an “iPhone Killah“, but ultimately asked your customers if they would have stayed for the iPhone you first rejected.

Now you see a chance for redemption in the next generation 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network technology that GSM carriers like AT&T and CDMA carriers like Verizon are both racing towards.

Will Apple end exclusivity with AT&T to grow into other user bases? Will Verizon get its second chance? Hey, if all else fails, at least domestic unlockers may appreciate an option other than T-Mobile for future generation US iPhones, right?

So yesterday we linked to Zach Epstein’s story over at BGR, the one about an internal Rogers briefing call that claimed Vancouver would be enjoying some 4G LTE at 50Mbps+ just in time for the Winter Olympics.

Rogers contacted us almost immediately to say the story was inaccurate and the call never happened, and we contacted Zach who was gracious enough to get back to us, reaffirming the story. Now the BGR has kicked it up another notch, posting audio from the supposed call online.

Real? Fake? A “leak it so we sound innovative but deny it so if it doesn’t launch we had coverage” tactic? Take a listen to the recording and tell us what you think…

UPDATED AGAIN: BGR is sticking by their story. Interesting times, eh?

UPDATE: We just received an email from Rogers stating:

“While we generally don’t comment on speculation or rumour, this posting is not accurate. Rogers was involved in no such call.”

ORIGINAL: So we’ve heard about AT&T and the EU, and we’ve heard about Verizon. Now it’s Canadian iPhone carrier, Rogers’ turn. The BGR brings word they’re pouring on the 4G LTE in hopes of launching in Vancouver in time for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in February.

Reportedly 50Mbps (un-optimized) is already a go on tests, and while no handsets will be available until mid-2010, USB dongles should launch sooner. Following Vancouver, Rogers plans to expand the network, and vows they’ll have less problems than their 3G HSPA launch. (We all hope!)

In the mixed bag-of-hurt department, it sounds like Rogers is also going to try to help out their over-strained cable business by merging it with 4G and Portable Internet.

You’ve told us and told us you want the iPhone on Verizon. There’s two reasons that hasn’t happened already. AT&T has exclusive rights in the US (Verizon, stupidly, turned down the iPhone initially), and the iPhone is a GSM device while Verizon runs a CDMA network (think Mac vs. PC). And, hey, Sprint can’t even get simultaneous voice and data going on the Pre with CDMA/EVDO, okay?

However, it seems like Verizon is going to the same LTE standard as AT&T for 4G, and hopes to do Ma Bell one better by bringing it to market by the end of THIS YEAR. (AT&T will be testing this year, rolling out in 2011, and the EU has delayed until 2012!) Gizmodo says it’s already running at 60Mbps, so…

With compatibility hurdles clearing in the future, will exclusivity fall next? Could we see an iPhone on Verizon in 2010 or 2011?

(TUAW has a great write up on that possibility, thanks Brian for the pointer!)

UPDATE: According to Ars, while AT&T is indeed shooting for 2011, the EU might just be delaying until 2012. Snap. Who’s the backwater internet slowpokes now?

ORIGINAL: Ah, it seems like only yesterday when little baby GRPS, barely faster than background radiation, burst on the scene. Then came EDGE, both 2G and 2.5G for our original iPhones, and HSPA up and down for our iPhone 3G. But time flies and yesterdays super fast is tomorrow’s far-too-slow, so it should come as no surprise that AT&T used the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to announce they’ll have their 4G network, known as LTE (Long Term Evolution) zipping along fat 100Mbps in just a couple of years.

Tests should begin in 2010, and deployment in 2011. (Which means customer complaints should follow roughly 30 seconds there after).

So, is AT&T’s roadmap fast enough for you early adopters? Will it keep you on the iPhone network longer? And what are you most looking forward to with that ultra-boardband speed? Playing WoW on your iPhone HD? 4-way Mobile iChat? Or finally being able to load that one Facebook friend’s page with every dang app conceivable jammed on it?

[Via Electronista]