Japanese blog Macotakara leaked Apple is preparing to release 4G-capable
iPad 3 on Summer and LTE-equppied iPhone 5 on Autumn by 2012.
Additionally, both devices will be released on NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s
foremost mobile carrier.
The timings would give the iPhone 4S, which released just last month,
and the iPad 2, which dropped earlier this year, a decent spell as the
top device.
NTT DoCoMo’s president Kiyoyuki Tsujimura and vice president Takashi
Yamada are reported to have met Tim Cook earlier this month to smooth
out the deal, and “agreed in principle” with Apple’s head honcho to sell
both the next-generation iPhone and iPad. The verbal agreement also
entailed a commitment to order, so although nothing’s been cast in
stone, it does seem a strong possibility that the two companies will be
doing a lot of business over the next 12 months.
There has been much talk during the course of the last year or so as
to whether the fruit company would move towards 4G (or LTE, as it is
referred to in Cupertino), but as yet, nothing has materialized. Apple
has always maintained that the technology is not ready for mass
adoption, since the current bunch of 4G LTE chips command too much power
in order to run. With smartphone batteries about as useful as chocolate
fire blankets just now, you’d have to say it’s been a wise move.
In addition, Apple’s CFO Peter Oppenheimer noted the LTE chipsets
would beset design compromises which the Apple was not willing to make,
at least not for the time being.
Up until recently, talks between Apple and perspective carrier
partners throughout Asia had been hitting a brick wall due to Apple’s
lack of room for negotiation on its principle beliefs. For example,
Apple wanted carriers to commit to large volumes, something which –
despite the popularity of the iPhone – those carriers were not always
willing to make. Furthermore, NTT DoCoMo is reported to have wanted some
form of influence on what software goes on consumers’ devices, and as
you would expect, Apple was having none of it.
Macotakara also leaks Apple did get a redesigned iPhone 5,
however, stopped by Steve Jobs. And the display would be 4-inch large
with newly IGZO technology.
Then what do you think about a 4G iPhone 5? Looking foward to hear your opinion on the comments below.
