“Apple should pull out the stops and release a 3G-enabled laptop for network operators panting to get their mitts on a MacBook with built in mobile broadband connectivity,” Tony Smith reports for Register Hardware.
“That’s what Strategy Analytics analyst Neil Mawston advised the Mac maker today. Why? Because ‘many operators in the US and Western Europe would jump at the chance to cross-sell a cellular MacBook to their installed base of iPhone users, in order to stimulate ARPU’ – average revenue per user,” Smith reports.
“‘Bigger-screen or smaller-screen laptops with integrated cellular radios are a logical next step for Apple – and others,’ he said. ‘Such form-factors are within Apple’s core competence and they could be quickly developed,'” Smith reports. “Such is the carriers’ fervour for 3G laptops that Mawston said he believes this will be Apple’s ‘next move.'”
“When it revamped its MacBook and MacBook Pro lines just a couple of weeks ago – not to mention simultaneously announcing a revised MacBook Air that’ll ship any day now – Apple didn’t say anything about cellular connectivity,” Smith reports. “But Macworld Expo is coming up in early January, and any Apple ‘next move’ is likely to be made then.”
Full article here.
[Attribution: MacWorld UK. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Carl H.” for the heads up.]
Ya reckon!?
Why not just use the ExpressCard plug-in? No need to hardwire 3G network components into a laptop and take up precious space that could better used for other technologies. Just plugin if you need it or don’t if you don’t.
Interesting fantasy…
tablet
Smith makes a very good point.
Want it now.
Gimme.
Please.
Wait for the next move… Apple is going to go way above netbooks! And maybe not even that expensive as we are used to…
Another opinion from another anal-cyst.
I wouldn’t want to be tied in like that. In all likelihood, as soon as you make the commitment, something better will come along, and your upgrade options are blocked.
Yeah, this would be great – I could relive the dialup speeds of my AOL days! wooooo heeeee!
It makes me laugh when people tell Apple what they NEED to do. I’m not what you consider a “die hard” fan in the sense that I believe Apple is always right, etc, etc. But, what I DO know about Apple is that they’re NOT stupid… at all. So, it’s not as if they haven’t thought this one up already, obviously. So, what irks me is when people believe or talk like Apple DOESN’T know what they’re doing. Freak! If you had spent as much time as I have with the company, and I’m sure the majority of your readers, you’d know that Apple doesn’t just pull stuff out of their brain and put it on the market. There’s so much so be considered before throwing out new technology, and Apple knows how and when to hold back. Unless of course you consider the Newton…
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This is carriers’ wet dream. Get people to buy 3G-enabled laptops and saddle them with a recurring monthly bill! Current laptop owners already connect wirelessly to the internet via (somewhat) ubiquitous WiFi networks. If onlye cell carriers could rope them into paying $70 per month for that privilege…!
There is very little value for Apple to provide this. Connectivity hardware for this usually retails for upwards of $150 (expresscards, PC cards, PCMCIA cards…) when bought without any plans. There is no chance in hell Apple would ever try and sell their notebooks tied into a two-year plan with a cell carrier; there are very few industries in the US that have worse customer service reputation than cell carriers. Not to mention that the percentage of notebook buyers who would actually want this is probably negligible.
Is the USB such a painful thing to have on the side?
This idea seems a bit pointless to me…
Plus it wouldn’t work too well with the aluminum casing, which was the whole thing with the iPhone now having a plastic back…
Maybe a 3G laptop would make sense in Europe, but most of the Untied States doesn’t have 3G coverage yet. I travel a lot and I can tell you, my 3G capable iPhone spends most of it’s time on Edge.
Use the damn ExpressCard slot for this. It’s not like there are so many ExpressCard options available that one more is a problem.
Is this Neil Mawston thinking of improving the user experience with this plan?
Hahahahahahaha!
Of course not.
The primary reason for his <strike>scam</strike> plan, is increased soaking of consumers, and is stated by Mawston right at the beginning:
‘many operators in the US and Western Europe would jump at the chance to cross-sell a cellular MacBook to their installed base of iPhone users, in order to stimulate ARPU’ – average revenue per user,”
I can see, one day, iPhone will elegantly slide inside a MB or MBP, offering internet access while doubling as an extra touchpad and sync up too, maybe. No?
Oh well, guess I’ll keep my day job.
Oh well, guess I’ll keep my day job.
The original author of the article (one Tony Smith) should have thought the same. Had he done that, he’d still probably be sticking little pieces of paper into the suits’ pockets, that say “Inspected by No. 17″…
One word: WiMax
When I first heard of the MacBook Air I thought Apple had missed a trick and not put a 3g chip in it as the name might suggest.
one of the previous posters points out that the new aluminium case would block radio waves too so it’s not happening. Apple should let us tether our iPhones to the machines via USB though I’m not desperate for it. I’d still like a firewire port for my audio interface though!
macbook air : yes
macbook and pro : no : an un necessary component!
Mmmm… a WiMax MultiTouch tablet with OS X Snow Leopard, Apple’s new mini radio modules and an accelerometer would get me to the nearest Apple Store to actually buy something, rather than just going there to dream.
I use a Sprint Express Card sometimes over 3 hours a day while I’m on the road. I have never had a service issue, speeds are acceptable for web and email and I don’t have “park” at a Starbucks or other WIFI enabled establishment to get my work done.
The comment above regarding “very little value” only applies to those who don’t have a requirement for internet / email throughout the business day. For someone who needs connectivity, this option is extremely valuable. Dell has been offering connectivity for a couple of years now on their laptops and I bet selling a lot of them!
While Apple is known for pricing on the high side, the product quality and customer service generally exceeds expectations. I believe that Apple could do the same deal as they’ve done with At&t;and the iPhone – while I don’t care much for the service of At&t;, I would still prefer “built-in” vs. an external express card for convenience.
Hard to justify this as long as cell carriers charge $60 to $80 for laptop connectivity. What do they charge in Europe?
I’m tempted to jailbreak my iPhone just to use tethering.
Every carrier provides a USB device for just such a purpose. I know a lot of you people out there want the Swiss Army Knife of portable computing but that is one device I would rather keep a dongle. Having it in an express card slot is not going to make it any faster.
Newton II – you know it makes sense……