AT&T Rolling Out LTE Micro-SIM Cards, Sparking Speculation on iPad 3 Link

[pmz]

LTE is coming to at least the VZW version of the next iPad. This much I know and given that it's likely a single platform for both carriers, it stands to reason it's coming to AT&T at the same time.

On this you are either right or wrong. We shall see.

This perceived lack of LTE chips and network isn't keeping HTC and Samsung from selling the heck out of their 4G devices.

Here you are entirely off. 1. There is no perceived lack...the lack is genuine. 2. What data are you seeing that shows HTC & Samsung are selling a lot of LTE devices? 3. The biggest difference between Apple and those manufacturers, is that Apple doesn't pack a premature feature into a device just to sell it and drive numbers out. The few people who DO fall for the current LTE marketing campaigns find out quickly, after purchase, that LTE coverage is sparse and not worth paying for, and it saps your battery life like no other. That is the experience currently being sold by device manufacturers forcing LTE onto the market before its truly ready.

I would say that using that as an example of why Apple will include LTE sooner rather than later, is about as wrong as one could be.

 

[Big Dawg 23]

Too bad most people on AT&T won't be able to experience LTE speeds or make calls.

AT&T didn't need to push LTE because 3G speeds were much faster than VZW and Sprint. VZW was stock with a capped data on 3G Rev A. I get 7MB all the time on AT&T, if VZW had this would likely have not moved to LTE so quickly. They did to compete with AT&T on speed.

Also by the end of June a much larger chunk will have LTE.

 

[gotluck]

That would be awesome. Something tells me it'll be just like the 4S though And have both chips but will be locked to whichever you choose.

Therese's no carrier subsidizing or data contracts though afaik. It could be possible that its entirely unlocked, wishful thinking though

 

[Big Dawg 23]

I still can't see why people are getting excited about LTE for the iPad with the draconian data limits and pricing. At current rates LTE just means you get to your 2GB limit faster.

LTE without reasonably priced data (unlimited or whatever) just doesn't make sense on an iPad.

FWIW
DLM

Riddle me this, if I download a 10MB file on 3G and then on LTE, how does it consume more data it is still a 10MB file. LTE will just allow for a faster download. File sizes don't get bigger while pulling to an LTE device.

 

[pmz]

I thought Apple was waiting for lower powered LTE chips?

When did Apple say that publicly?

No one has any idea what Apple could have done with last gen LTE chips re: battery life. We do know however, that Apple is unlikely to launch LTE devices when coverage is sparse. That is the current state of things.

 

[Fazzy]

As said, obvious for the Nokia Lumia 900 for next month. So, let's keep it at that. Not everything needs to be interpreted to be about Apple.

Yeah, (un?)fortunately not every move AT&T makes is about Apple

 

[skellener]

Think the iPad 3 will offer LTE. It's battery is large enough to take any kind of hit LTE causes. Plus they will get to test out how well it does and find any tweaks needed before the iPhone 5 with LTE ships later in the year. There's no way the next iPhone can NOT be LTE. Whether it comes out in Summer or Fall, to lock people into another 2 year contract with only another 3G device in 2012 is ridiculous.

 

[acidfast7]

welcome to 2009 AT&T users!

 

[skellener]

I get 7MB all the time on AT&T...

I am very happy for you. I've never seen anything above 1.75 down from AT&T in Los Angeles. You're lucky if you even can get EDGE (yes still) in Studio City.

 

[AustinIllini]

Think the iPad 3 will offer LTE. It's battery is large enough to take any kind of hit LTE causes. Plus they will get to test out how well it does and find any tweaks needed before the iPhone 5 with LTE ships later in the year. There's no way the next iPhone can NOT be LTE. Whether it comes out in Summer or Fall, to lock people into another 2 year contract with only another 3G device in 2012 is ridiculous.

As an iPhone user, I'm really interested in the next iPad. It would be nice to know what technology will probably make the iPhone in six months.

 

[pmz]

Riddle me this, if I download a 10MB file on 3G and then on LTE, how does it consume more data it is still a 10MB file. LTE will just allow for a faster download. File sizes don't get bigger while pulling to an LTE device.

What he means is, usage behavior changes as data speeds increase. You can do more in less time, so ultimately you do.

Consider how much data you were using on EDGE, vs. how much you use now on 3G.

 

[reclusive46]

Will the old micro sim cards not work with LTE then? Does something have to be enabled or what?

 

[shawnce]

Riddle me this, if I download a 10MB file on 3G and then on LTE, how does it consume more data it is still a 10MB file. LTE will just allow for a faster download. File sizes don't get bigger while pulling to an LTE device.

Riddle me this, if I store a 10MB file on a 200MB hard drive and then on a 200GB drive, how does it consume more data it is still a 10MB file. 200GB drives will just allow you to store more. Files size don't get bigger while storing it on a large drive.

...missing the point!

Having faster data networks – just like having larger storage devices – ends up modifying our behavior by allowing us to get at more data then we could before both in terms of time and space.

A few years ago most folks wouldn't suffer the time it took to bring up a poorly rendered limited mobile websites on mobile devices but now because of network speeds and display/device capabilities they view full websites, expanding into video, audio, etc.

Faster networks will result in more data being pulled down by the average consumer in the same time period as they leverage more of what it allows for.

So if the data caps don't change users are going to find themselves running into a wall that they didn't hit before... (again not everyone will being pulling more data overnight but folks will just naturally start to do that as more devices/app leverage the increased data rates)

 

[reclusive46]

What SKU is the latest sim card 71247?

 

[AJH1993]

If the iPad 3 can support the Verizon & AT&T networks on the same model, that would be a huge selling point, for me.

Verizon LTE and AT&T LTE run on different bands, even though both are using LTE 700. So there would need to be a Verizon and AT&T iPad. Not to mention it would be dumb of Apple to not include a 3G switch on an LTE iPad, and AT&T and Verizon 3G are very different. AT&T sucks anyway.

 

[Dan--]

Image
"To keep your micro sim inventory up to date, scrap all old micro sims [redacted], but keep all new micro sims labeled with same sku."

Am I just being grumpy, or does it piss other people off too when they make a material change to a product and keep the same SKU?

 

[cvaldes]

When did Apple say that publicly?

No one has any idea what Apple could have done with last gen LTE chips re: battery life. We do know however, that Apple is unlikely to launch LTE devices when coverage is sparse. That is the current state of things.

Tim Cook addressed it in the Q2FY2011 earnings conference call with financial analysts in April of last year. Someone asked him about LTE and Cook replied that the current solutions at the time required too many "design compromises" that Apple did not want to make.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20055833-248.html?tag=mncol;txt

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Verizon LTE and AT&T LTE run on different bands, even though both are using LTE 700. So there would need to be a Verizon and AT&T iPad. Not to mention it would be dumb of Apple to not include a 3G switch on an LTE iPad, and AT&T and Verizon 3G are very different. AT&T sucks anyway.

Or they could build one model that had the proper LTE equipment to communicate on both sets of frequencies.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless use 700MHz spectrum frequencies that don't overlap. LTE in other countries run on other frequencies anyhow, just like GSM/UTMS and EDGE/GPRS/HSPA run on different frequencies around the world. The current iPhone has the hardware to support most of those frequencies.

 

[AJH1993]

Or they could build one model that had the proper LTE equipment to communicate on both sets of frequencies.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless use 700MHz spectrum frequencies that don't overlap. LTE in other countries run on other frequencies anyhow, just like GSM/UTMS and EDGE/GPRS/HSPA run on different frequencies around the world. The current iPhone has the hardware to support most of those frequencies.

Problem is that LTE roaming works a bit differently. Sad, but true. I would touch on my little AT&T prepaid disaster, but wanna keep things positive

 

[EvilEvil]

AT&T didn't need to push LTE because 3G speeds were much faster than VZW and Sprint. VZW was stock with a capped data on 3G Rev A. I get 7MB all the time on AT&T, if VZW had this would likely have not moved to LTE so quickly. They did to compete with AT&T on speed.

Also by the end of June a much larger chunk will have LTE.

Yeah if you're lucky to live in a random area that gets it consistently.

 

[knewsom]

Of course iPad 3 is going to be LET - Verizon will not sell or provide service for any more new 3G devices.

 

[swordfish5736]

Therese's no carrier subsidizing or data contracts though afaik. It could be possible that its entirely unlocked, wishful thinking though

I feel like the carriers would throw a fit about this I mean letting us choose which carrier to use after purchasing the iPad that's just rediculous

 

[killerwhack]

Too bad most people on AT&T won't be able to experience LTE speeds or make calls.

Good point. Why bother with LTE if you are just going to be throttled down to GPRS speeds after a week of use?

 

[cvaldes]

Problem is that LTE roaming works a bit differently. Sad, but true. I would touch on my little AT&T prepaid disaster, but wanna keep things positive

Please do tell.

I use an AT&T GoPhone SIM in my unlocked iPhone 4S. I'm interested in know what limitations there are so when I move to LTE (with a new device), I'll be well informed of the possible pitfalls.

 

[reclusive46]

Please do tell.

I use an AT&T GoPhone SIM in my unlocked iPhone 4S. I'm interested in know what limitations there are so when I move to LTE (with a new device), I'll be well informed of the possible pitfalls.

Is the data not super throttled on GoPhone and how did you manage to get any sort of gophone data on an iPhone? Would you not be better off with an MVNO like Red Pocket?

 

[trickytrav]

Verizon already does.

Yeah, wake me up when Verizon switches to microSIM LTE cards.

They actually already do. My Verizon LTE Galaxy Nexus uses a microSIM. I think more people need to realize that MicroSIMs are not something exclusive to Apple devices. They're really just standard SIM cards with less plastic. You can actually cut a standard SIM into a micro SIM if need be and it works fine.