Rumor: iPad 3 and iPhone 5 both on track for LTE

By Rene Ritchie
last updated

Nikkei Business is reporting that the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 are both on their way with LTE 4G radios, set to debut on Japan's NTT DoCoMo in summer and fall of 2012 respectively. Yes, we already suspect an iPad 3 and iPhone 5 are coming next year, and yes we already suspect they'll both have LTE options on networks that support it, but it's still nice to see the usual rumors popping up along the way.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is said to have met with NTT DoCoMo president Kiyoyuki Tsujimura and VP Takashi Yamada earlier this month to work out the details of the arrangement, and the companies have reportedly reached agreeable terms.

As to the timing, summer and fall Japanese launches don't preclude spring and summer U.S. releases, but as we saw with the iPhone 4S this year, Apple isn't afraid to move the timing around. Could iPad 3 take over the old iPhone WWDC spot in June 2012? We'll have to wait and see...

Source: Nikkei Business via BGR

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.