Katie Marsal
Though there is no indication that Apple's forthcoming fifth-generation iPhone will include LTE compatibility, Boy Genius Report claimed on Monday that Apple's carrier partners are testing an iPhone prototype with LTE. The rumor is evidence that Apple is pursuing support of the high-speed 4G network standard.
The report includes images said to be code from the firmware of an internal iOS test build issued to "one of Apple's major carrier partners." The references to LTE support are included in a property list, or .plist, file.
Specifically, a "key" tag allegedly discovered in the testing code references "Connected mode LTE Intra-frequency Measurement." It offers no indication of what iPhone model might include 4G support.
In the U.S., Verizon's LTE network launched in late 2010 in major markets across the country, while AT&T plans to have a full-fledged 4G network in 15 markets available to 70 million customers by the end of 2011.
Reports have suggested that an LTE-capable iPhone is likely more than a year away, as one recent report claimed that appropriate chips from Qualcomm are not ready for the iPhone's required production levels. Also a concern is battery life with devices running power-hungry 4G antennas.
Commenting on LTE networks in April, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said his company has been extremely happy with the performance of its 3G handsets, including the iPhone 4, leaving him in no rush to produce an LTE-capable smartphone.
"The first generation of LTE chipsets force a lot of design compromises with the handset, and some of those we are just not willing to make," Cook said.
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36 Comments
The rumor is evidence?
Seems to be contradictory terms...
1) Isn't this about the time each year we hear about carriers testing handsets for the following year's release?
2) I'd like to see an LTE iPhone this year but I haven't seen any evidence that the chips are small and efficient enough to make it a viable options for an iPhone with a 3.5" display. I'm much more inclined to think Apple will release a true "world mode" device this year if they have the extra room and add LTE next year. However, if we're talking about Apple growing the brand by releasing a ≈4" display iPhone then they may have more room for additional components to make LTE a viable option.
15 markets, not 15 million.
1) Isn't this about the time each year we hear about carriers testing handsets for the following year's release?
2) I'd like to see an LTE iPhone this year but I haven't seen any evidence that the chips are small and efficient enough to make it a viable options for an iPhone with a 3.5" display. I'm much more inclined to think Apple will release a true "world mode" device this year if they have the extra room and add LTE next year. However, if we're talking about Apple growing the brand by releasing a ≈4" display iPhone then they may have more room for additional components to make LTE a viable option.
Agreed, I don't think we'll be seeing an LTE iPhone in 2011, given the reports of how bad 4G android handset battery life is I'm not sure we'd even want one.
Agreed, I don't think we'll be seeing an LTE iPhone in 2011, given the reports of how bad 4G android handset battery life is I'm not sure we'd even want one.
I can't completely completely rule it out because, 1) it feels like it's about time for Apple to expand the brand which to me means a larger display that could potentially handle such components, 2) this additional 3-4 months of the iPhone 4 seems mostly likely due to a HW delay of the 5th gen. iPhone which could be from securing a certain LTE chip, 3) even AT&T is pushing their LTE adoption up faster than expected even though they haven't done a full rollout of HSPA+.
How are countries outside the US doing with LTE networks and handsets?