Qualcomm's Next-Generation Gobi Platform Consolidates Mobile Standards Support for Future iOS Devices

[milan03]

Assuming Apple allows it. Has any carrier talked about supporting voice over LTE?

Verizon has been conduction VoLTE internal trials in several markets for the past 5 months or so, and I'm sure AT&T's been doing the same. The problem is there was no UE available to sell, (LG Revolution was a joke) and I hope with the 2nd generation of Baseband Chipsets like MDM9615, we should be looking at the Q1 2013 when Verizon is expected to make available their VoLTE service nationwide.
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...ationwide-volte-service-early-2013/2012-01-19

 

[thewitt]

Actually 28nm Qualcomm baseband chipsets have been sampling since Q4 2011. Apple doesn't need millions of these chipsets to build their device around. Looking at Apple's last two smartphones using Qualcomm baseband and selling rediculous amount of units, I'm pretty sure that reserving and paying Qualcomm for early access is a non issue.
Mobile World Congress starts next week, and Qualcomm already announced that several OEMs will be announcing their Krait based smartphones using that same baseband. http://gigaom.com/mobile/qualcomm-no-quad-core-phones-at-mwc-but-well-have-something-better/
The production is in full swing in TMSC, my friends.

Since they plan to ship more than 60m iPads in 2012, I would say they needed volume production in November, not samples. Apple is not going to gamble on availability just to jump on this chipset. Fall? OK. Spring? Too soon.

 

[milan03]

Since they plan to ship more than 60m iPads in 2012, I would say they needed volume production in November, not samples. Apple is not going to gamble on availability just to jump on this chipset. Fall? OK. Spring? Too soon.

If you read carefully I stated that most likely a wifi model will come out first and cell version weeks later. Not everybody wants an iPad 4G... also it may be limited to north America at first. We don't know...

 

[Ted13]

If you read carefully I stated that most likely a wifi model will come out first and cell version weeks later. Not everybody wants an iPad 4G... also it may be limited to north America at first. We don't know...

Won't happen, both flavors of iPad will be released simultaneously, just like the with the iPad 2.

Nor are they going to release a 4G iPad in North America, and a 3G one elsewhere.

 

[MattInOz]

Assuming Apple allows it. Has any carrier talked about supporting voice over LTE?

They'll allow it. Apple are already preparing for it with Facetime.

 

[nutjob]

Also noted it supports TD-SCDMA, a likely candidate to enable the next iPhone to used with China Mobile. Opening the iPhone to an additional 650 million people.....

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Current LTE chips are data only (IE in order to use both data and voice at the same time, the phone would require two radios to be on at the same time, sucking down power) - as carriers begin supporting voice on LTE, this will come in handy.

LTE is all IP, there is no voice (ie circuit switch voice) service, it's all packet switched. Voice is a data service under LTE, you don't need two radios to support voice.

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Verizon has been conduction VoLTE internal trials in several markets for the past 5 months or so, and I'm sure AT&T's been doing the same. The problem is there was no UE available to sell, (LG Revolution was a joke) and I hope with the 2nd generation of Baseband Chipsets like MDM9615, we should be looking at the Q1 2013 when Verizon is expected to make available their VoLTE service nationwide.
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...ationwide-volte-service-early-2013/2012-01-19

Why do you need baseband support to implement LTE voice? I imagine they could do software upgrades to support VoLTE or whatever voice standards the carriers choose on the handsets.

 

[milan03]

Won't happen, both flavors of iPad will be released simultaneously, just like the with the iPad 2.

Nor are they going to release a 4G iPad in North America, and a 3G one elsewhere.

Remember the first iPad back in 2010? If the chipset is in low supply they could announce both flavors and push wifi model first, just like in 2010.

 

[tipdrill407]

I'm still skeptical about Apple supporting LTE for its upcoming devices. If it does support it, I think it will probably be limited to the US market ONLY. LTE networks around the world have been deployed on a mish mash of different frequencies. You cannot currently take an LTE device from one country and use it in a different country, because the frequencies are not compatible. Apple has always made one device for all of its markets worldwide. If its going to adopt LTE for all of its markets, its going to have to manufacture devices with different chipsets for each country which would be a huge break from how Apple currently does business.

 

[Therbo]

I'm still skeptical about Apple supporting LTE for its upcoming devices. If it does support it, I think it will probably be limited to the US market ONLY. LTE networks around the world have been deployed on a mish mash of different frequencies. You cannot currently take an LTE device from one country and use it in a different country, because the frequencies are not compatible. Apple has always made one device for all of its markets worldwide. If its going to adopt LTE for all of its markets, its going to have to manufacture devices with different chipsets for each country which would be a huge break from how Apple currently does business.

The LTE Devices in Europe will support jumping from country to country, since all carriers are required to use certain frequencies.

LTE is all IP, there is no voice (ie circuit switch voice) service, it's all packet switched. Voice is a data service under LTE, you don't need two radios to support voice.

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Why do you need baseband support to implement LTE voice? I imagine they could do software upgrades to support VoLTE or whatever voice standards the carriers choose on the handsets.

The GSM Association actually came up with a VoLTE implementation, but Verizion decided to make their own which means its not compatible with standard LTE phones.

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Also remember that LTE is actually 3G, not 4G. It dosen't actually get much higher real-world rates then HSPA+, which uses far less battery power and is much widely spread (oh and supports more phones and roaming).

http://photos.appleinsider.com/mobile.evolution.001.jpg

 

[thewitt]

Remember the first iPad back in 2010? If the chipset is in low supply they could announce both flavors and push wifi model first, just like in 2010.

Except the sales numbers are an order of magnitude higher this year, and Apple is not going to throw away 20m iPad sales because they can't ship. LTE is just not worth that to them this year. Not enough infrastructure in place to make it high demand.

 

[marcusj0015]

Pack 'em all in, on the same chip! Reminds me of the great blackout of how- many-years-ago, in the Northeast. My wife and I by chance were in Niagara-on-the-lake Ontario, at a play; the lights flickered, but that was it. Over a relaxed dinner, we learned of the entire East Coast being blacked out, except for our town. Likely when Niagara Falls was first harnessed, there was a local line, just to Niagara-on-the-Lake, and it was folded into the later networks. But still with its local wires! My chip will still have the original on it, when everything else folds....

Dude, We turned on our air conditioner and the power grid went down at that exact moment. it was FREAKY AS HELL

 

[spazzcat]

Seriously? Its so you can talk to people using your phone.

Talking on your phone is so 1990's

 

[milan03]

Except the sales numbers are an order of magnitude higher this year, and Apple is not going to throw away 20m iPad sales because they can't ship. LTE is just not worth that to them this year. Not enough infrastructure in place to make it high demand.

They are not trowing anything, they'll be selling WiFi models like hotcakes, following with 4G model that'll be selling like hotcakes too.

 

[Nick4u1]

yeah, thats basically the case!