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Future Apple Notebooks To Get 3G Wireless?

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Apr 12, 2001
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Appleinsider cites one of its sources as claiming that future Apple notebooks may feature an option to include built-in 3G wireless.

While such features have been present in the PC industry for some time, Appleinsider believes that Apple will do a better job of implementing the chip, placing it in the display and away from the logic board to minimize electromagnetic interference and maximizing potential signal strength.

Which technology Apple will adopt is unclear at this point. HSDPA, supported by AT&T (and other global carriers), seems to be a logical bet regarding Apple's work with the company with the iPhone. However, with Appleinsider's source unable to identify the technology to be used, this tidbit remains speculative.

As a historical note, Intel's Santa Rosa platform originally specified having such a 3G HSDPA card for notebooks, but such plans were later scrapped, citing lack of a good business case.
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2007/05/14/future-apple-notebooks-to-get-3g-wireless/
About time. Not that I personally have much need for this, but Apple does need to offer more options in BTO than they currently do (e.g. TV Tuners) on some of their model types. Offering 3G as an option would be a start in this area. I also hope that in the next notebook design they make hard drive replacement an easier exercise for the end user. Dell manage it, so it can't be that hard ;-)
 
I think this would be a GREAT feature to include in future Mac portables.
 
Mydel said:
Yeah my thought exactly. Maybe Im wrong but is US 3G compatible with EU 3G??
Click to expand...

I think it depends on the technology... I don't even think all EU 3G is intercompatible, is it? US 3G is certainly not intercompatible. I think the UMTS/HSDPA system works in more places than any other, but EV-DO and other standards are prevalent in the US, as well, which complicates matters greatly.

Nonetheless, hasn't stopped IBM, etc.
 
BigPrince said:
what are some costs associated using this.
Click to expand...

If you read AppleInsider's article, they go into that a bit. Typically, it costs about $180 extra, so it would most likely be a build to order option.

dcv said:
3G for a notebook and not in the iPhone? :confused:
Click to expand...

You can fit 3G into a notebook easier than you can into a small phone. I'm using Apple's logic here...

Either way, I think you'll see 3G in the iPhone soon enough. Let the iPhone be on the market for a bit...
 
mkrishnan said:
I think it depends on the technology... I don't even think all EU 3G is intercompatible, is it? US 3G is certainly not intercompatible. I think the UMTS/HSDPA system works in more places than any other, but EV-DO and other standards are prevalent in the US, as well, which complicates matters greatly.
Click to expand...

Hmm Im under impression that UMTS/HSDPA has one standard in all EU. Imm not 100% sure but I used it in many EU countries and naver had a problem with connection using only one sim (Polish provider - Heyah). I dont have a clue if EV-DO is even in use in EU.
Anyway stashing 3G into laptop whithout intercompatibility would be hmm strange. And they would have to have different model for US and different for EU not mentioning other places. that doesn't soud like Apple..........
 
longofest said:
You can fit 3G into a notebook easier than you can into a small phone. I'm using Apple's logic here...

Either way, I think you'll see 3G in the iPhone soon enough. Let the iPhone be on the market for a bit...
Click to expand...

I'm just confused by the reasoning:

Not putting 3G into a small device used where you're likely to be away from your computer (or with your computer but not having broadband/WiFi access) and wanting "high"-speed internet access...

and

Adding lower-speed 3G to a notebook which already has a higher-speed wireless-G or-N connection to the internet. Plus you can already use your mobile phone as a modem for your notebook via Bluetooth in areas where you've no WiFi.

It'd be a nice feature to have, yes, but I'd have hoped that they'd address the lack of 3G in the iPhone (certainly for the European market) before sticking 3G in a notebook!
 
BigPrince said:
But then theres monthly fees and such correct?
Click to expand...

Yes, and it's usually a ridiculous price for what you get. I just don't see Apple doing this yet as 3G networks aren't even available in all major cities in the U.S. It's just not feasible, even as a BTO option.
 
Mydel said:
Anyway stashing 3G into laptop whithout intercompatibility would be hmm strange. And they would have to have different model for US and different for EU not mentioning other places. that doesn't soud like Apple..........
Click to expand...

Well, in that case, the most likely scenario is still UMTS/HSDPA, which at least *could* be compatible both with US and with EU services, from what I understand.
 
This is something I'd expect to see as an option on any ultra-portable, like the rumors on Friday. I'm not overly familiar with 3G services, but it seems like it would fit there, if anywhere.
 
I certainly hope Apple includes built-in 3G capability in future portables. I have it in my little Sony TX notebook (Sprint EV-DO), and I love it.

I have an Express card for my MacBook Pro, but it's not as convenient. I have to take the card out to fit the computer in its case. Of course the external card gives me the advantage of changing carriers or updating technology as it becomes available.

Apple would be smart to offer easily-swappable modules to support either the CDMA carriers (EV-DO) or GSM carriers (HSDPA). Many built-in 3G adapters go unused since they are dedicated to a carrier that isn't the one with whom the purchaser already has service.
 
mkrishnan said:
Well, in that case, the most likely scenario is still UMTS/HSDPA, which at least *could* be compatible both with US and with EU services, from what I understand.
Click to expand...
US and EU 3g services operate on different bands so their not compatible. Hell, even T-Mobiles upcoming 3g is not compatible with Cingular within the US or any other place in the world to my knowledge. The US mobile system is a joke with it's competing technologies, and non-standard(as compared to the rest of the world) 3g service bands.
 
toneloco2881 said:
US and EU 3g services operate on different bands so their not compatible. Hell, even T-Mobiles upcoming 3g is not compatible with Cingular within the US or any other place in the world to my knowledge. The US mobile system is a joke with it's competing technologies, and non-standard(as compared to the rest of the world) 3g service bands.
Click to expand...

There are multi-band HSDPA cards available now. Just because the phones and some of the cards marketed by the companies aren't tri-band, there's no reason to expect that the card in the computer would not be multi-band. Everyone likes to bitch about the US cellular industry...I'm no exception. But we ought to at least keep bitching to reality and not invent new problems.... :p
 
I have been a Cingular customer for 7 years now and have been very pleased with their service. However, the EVDO network that Verizon runs is far more expansive than Cingular's. Verizon is in more cities and, thus, is a better deal. I don't really like Verizon because they cripple their phones to make an extra buck and many other shady things, but I love their 3G network. Apple will probably go with Cingular/AT&T so let's hope they put lots and lots of money into improving the network.
 
In Europe HSDPA/HSUPA currently offers download speeds of up to 7.2 MBit/sec (=16x faster than UMTS+EDGE), and upload speeds of up to 1.4 MBit/sec (=22x faster than UMTS+EDGE).

The latest cards support *all* of the following bands:
850/900/1800/1900/2100 Mhz.

An affordable monthly plan will range around 20 Euro/month for 1.5GB, and 50 Euro/month for 20GB. The service generally works very well and is quite popular, and extremely convenient. I use it when in Europe and am very happy with the service.

Carriers claim that cards work in all of Europe *and* in the US, though roaming charges will apply for usage abroad.
I would be more than thrilled to see the technology embedded in my MacBook Pro to be independent of WiFi, and online wherever, whenever.
 
I use Bluetooth for this purpose, and it's compatible with all carriers.

Intel has a $1.1B investment in WiMax, and that's the logical end-game.

I don't see why Apple couldn't build in a nice antenna, though, and let anybody plug into it - with an extra ExpressCard slot pin set or equivalent. A small FPGA could be used to change the antenna length to match the carrier's frequency ideally.
 
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