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Analyst tidbits suggest a Verizon tablet or iPhone

by Michael Rose Jan 20th 2010 at 3:30PM

With several analysts weighing in today on tablet components, there are a few items that might make you sit up a little straighter and take note -- especially if you're eager for an alternative to your AT&T contract.

First, Ashok Kumar broke down his expectations for components in the hypothetical tablet, and Richard Doherty chimed in: a PA Semi-designed, Samsung-manufactured ARM processor may be the product's heart -- possibly sporting more than one core, which would give the imaginary product plenty of imaginary power. Kumar went on to ID a Broadcom Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module and a Qualcomm WWAN package as fellow travelers on the tablet motherboard.

The presence of this Qualcomm chip in the parts list is what set off Scott Moritz at The Street, who extrapolates a Verizon deal for wireless data on the product; Qualcomm and CDMA are essentially synonymous, but the current iPhone uses an Infineon GSM module. While the same chipset could work with Sprint as a carrier (and that's the company already behind Amazon's original Whispernet service, save for the latest Kindle model with Global Wireless), Verizon would certainly be the people's choice.

Second, Brainstorm Tech/Apple 2.0 cites a client note from Peter Misek at Cannacord Adams, who believes that the "One More Thing" at the 1/27 announcement may well be a Verizon iPhone to arrive late in Q2 2010, with an LTE/4G model due in 2011. The hypothetical ViPhone would sport a CDMA radio for domestic use but would still be usable on GSM networks outside the US (not unlike the Blackberry 8830 World Phone model) -- in contrast to the report from The Street a few days back, which seemed to hint at a CDMA-only Verizon phone. How dreamy.

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With several analysts weighing in today on tablet components, there are a few items that might make you sit up a little straighter and...
 

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Shatt

I'm totally unhappy with my At&t service, as I know a lot of other TUAW readers are. I think if we band together, we can send Apple and At&t a message that we're not going to stick around if our service provider totally sucks. Voice your opinion at

http://www.shatt.net

January 20 2010 at 8:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ssqtchcm

Whispernet service for Amazon's Kindle is actually AT&T, not Sprint.

January 20 2010 at 7:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ssqtchcm's comment
Misplaced Mage

The remark is partially correct. The original Kindle --and later, original Kindle DX -- used Sprint, and could thus only purchase books via "Whispernet" in the U.S. Only the latest versions of each have switched to GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS, permitting "Whispernet" purchases world-wide.

January 20 2010 at 10:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
artifex

Yeah... having the tablet be Verizon's CDMA would make it US-only, both in sales and in practical useage. Same with an iPhone. You really think they want to limit themselves like that?

January 20 2010 at 6:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Superstition

I don't see this happening (the Verizon service)... at least not exclusively. There are so many iPhone owners with AT&T service, I doubt Apple would want those people locked in with AT&T to have to also go to Verizon.

January 20 2010 at 5:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tdowns80

Do you really think that Steve would want to setup a deal with a company that trashes the iPhone in its ads? Verizon spent the whole holiday season pushing "A Map For That" ads that featured an iPhone. Verizon uses a network that is slower and would collapse under the weight of iPhone users. ATT has been a disappointment, but iPhone on Verizon will only be worse. The iPhone jumped so far ahead in the smartphone market that no carrier is capable of meeting the expectations at this time and they need to get on the ball and provide solid service.

January 20 2010 at 4:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to tdowns80's comment
Forrest

Agreed. I can't wait until the exclusivity ends and iPhone dominates Verizon so I can have my Cingular back.

January 20 2010 at 5:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bertil Holmberg

Sorry, but the idea that a solution to the AT&T/Verison petty squabble would fit as a "One More Thing" is simply too US centric. Steve Jobs and Apple knows that at least half of their revenues are generated elsewhere.

January 20 2010 at 4:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Murphy Mac

Scott Moritz is a complete waste of time. If you listened to him about Apple and all their imminent failures you missed a chance to make a fortune on aapl shares.

January 20 2010 at 3:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Murphy Mac's comment
Michael Rose

Nice turn of phrase!

January 20 2010 at 4:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob

This is entirely within the realm of possibility. Qualcomm announced the QSC6x95 single-chip cellular modem family last year. The QSC6165, -75, -85, and -95 all support GSM, GPRS, and EDGE and differ only in the highest level/speed of CDMA they support (1x, EVDO, EVDO rev A, and EVDO rev B, respectively).

Then there's the QSC6695: it throws in UMTS on top of everything else. That would tide anyone over until LTE becomes available!

January 20 2010 at 3:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

How often are these "analysts" correct?

January 20 2010 at 3:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Scott's comment
punkassjim

In the case of Scott Moritz, it's pretty much easy money if you AGAINST whatever he bets FOR.

January 20 2010 at 4:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dennis

I think it would be a mistake to tie a cell provider to the tablet. While it may be attractive to have complete mobile access and a lower cost because of subsidies, it would falsely create a requirement for the device.

Why even take it to that level when it will likely be a wireless device that should be used offline as well. I dropped a blog on the five features I would like to see, including USB being a must have!

http://blog.jenders.com/2010/01/20/top-5-must-have-features-for-the-apple-tablet/

January 20 2010 at 3:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to dennis's comment
punkassjim

"…it would falsely create a requirement for the device. Why even take it to that level when it will likely be a wireless device that should be used offline as well"

You mean, like the Kindle? I dunno man, I'd say a subsidy without the need for a contract (a la the Kindle) would be spectacular indeed. But yeah, I'll go on record and say that whatever Apple does, they're NOT going to require a cell contract for the tablet. They know better.

January 20 2010 at 4:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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