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The iPad 3 will come in 4G LTE versions for Verizon and AT&T according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. It was reported earlier today that the iPad 3 announcement would come on March 7.
Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. will sell a version of the coming iPad that runs on their newest fourth-generation wireless networks, according to people familiar with the matter, as the battle to cash in on big investments in mobile broadband heats up.
Apple Inc. appears to be planning to announce the latest version of its tablet computer in the first week of March, according to another person briefed on the matter.
Whether other carriers will also sell the device couldn't be learned.
The WSJ noted that the devices will fallback to a "slower network technology" when LTE isn't available. The next iPad is expected to have a high-resolution Retina Display and a quad-core A6 processor, in addition to the LTE capabilities. There is no indication if the AT&T and Verizon iPads would be one model that can operate on both networks or separate units with individual SKUs, as they are currently.
Apple insiders have noted that Apple frequently engages in the practice of "controlled leaks", briefing trusted reporters with product information before the launch of a big product.
Top Rated Comments
The 10+ hour battery life is a huge differentiator for the iPad. Not thinking about charging all day makes the iPad so much better than a laptop.
I am looking forward to all of these enhancements, but I don't want the iPad world to regress into the "7 hour" promises of the laptop worldparticularly since laptops never last 7 hours. It's a different devise when you can work with it all day without needed a charge.
Fingers cross the post-Steve Apple hasn't lost site of what makes the iPad magicat least in partand is chasing specs just for that spec. I'd rather take 3G over average laptop battery life.
Since the iPad has a bigger battery, Apple didn't need to wait for the smaller, more power-efficient LTE chipsets.
In any case, this is a good move by Apple. They can gradually roll out LTE, plus it gives iPad 2 buyers a reason to upgrade. The iPad 3 should be a big hit. I'm planning to get one.
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None of them "predicted" the iPhone 5 last year. In general, the WSJ doesn't report leaks. It is a respected business publication (as is Bloomberg), and they usually are a good outlet for controlled leaks from Apple.