Mac laptops MIGHT be getting internal 3G cards.

Libra Monkee · Post by **Libra Monkee** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:37 pm

According to an unidentified yet allegedly credible source.

What's unclear from the report, however, is which networks Apple is looking to support. The source was unable to identifying whether or not Apple would produce a card for EVDO Internet access, which is supported by Sprint and Verizon in the US, or HSDPA, supported by AT&T and European carriers.

Seeing as the iPhone already going to Cingular-AT&T, chances are it'll be using their network.

Inside link

Post by **complacent** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:37 pm

I'd be surprised if they do this. It wouldn't make since for an entire laptop to be bonded to any one particular carrier. or I would think so anywho...

chicken n waffles · Post by **chicken n waffles** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:42 pm

it doesn't make sense for the iphone to be at&t-only, either, but such as life.

Post by **complacent** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:56 pm

chicken n waffles wrote:it doesn't make sense for the iphone to be at&t-only, either, but such as life.

I think it makes sense initially. Some of the features they (aapl) were toting required a redesign by the cellular provider on the network level (visual voicemail, etc.) - it wasn't a matter of throwing a different radio chip in the phone itself. Cingular was the only one willing to give it a shot. I think it was smart of them to focus on only one carrier at a time.

I can only imagine the nightmare it would have taken to get multiple wireless carriers to change all of their networks so the iPhone would be compatible.

That being said, I think it was yet another incredibly retarded move on both Verizon's part (said no to iphone, verizon is one of the lamest for innovation evAr) and Apple's part (Cingular, 2.5G? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?) to make the choices they did.

That being said, here's hoping both products aren't doomed to fail based on carrier branding and network speeds.

*crosses fingers*

<--- Wants a Verizon branded iPhone.

chicken n waffles · Post by **chicken n waffles** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:11 pm

truf.

my personal experience shows that quality of a carrier's phones is inversely proportional to quality of said carrier's wireless network. ie - verizon phones suck, but their network in the conus is far and away the most reliable. t-mobile has some of the coolest phones, but their network blows donkey dick.

Libra Monkee · Post by **Libra Monkee** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:26 pm

I seriously doubt the iPhone is will remain exclusive to CingulAT&T. Having a 3G phone on a network that tops out at 2.5G doen't make a whole lot of sense. I believe that Apple is using CingulAT&T solely as a test bed to show off what the product can do and gauge/ build interest in it. I'm sure there are several Mac addicts out there who'll probably even be camping outside and waiting in line on the release day to pick one of these up.

Even if the opposite happens and the iPhone doesn't turn out to be as successful as Apple would like it to be. They wouldn't have dumped the time, money, and effort it would have taken to make the iPhone multi-carrier right out the gate.

Plus, knowing how secretive Apple is with their technologies going with only one carrier means they had to persuade one company into fortifying and updating its Non-Disclosure Agreement. Once the device and all its capabilities are out in the wild and there's no longer a need for secrecy, CingulAT&T is bound to lose its exclusivity.