iPad 3 Release Rumor: Will Apple Include Qualcomm’s Gobi Chip for 4G LTE Support?

At a time when speculation about iPad 3 is gaining momentum before its predicted launch in the first week of March, mobile chipset maker Qualcomm, by releasing its fifth generation Gobi platform, has fueled anticipation that Apple will unquestionably introduce its next generation tablet with 4G LTE support.

Qualcomm's Gobi chip is based on its Gobi 4G LTE wireless baseband modems - MDM9615 and MDM9215 - that will support LTE, TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA and TDD networks.

According to Qualcomm, the new technology delivers fast LTE connectivity on FDD and TDD networks worldwide with backwards compatibility to both HSPA+ and EV-DO networks.

This will allow support for regional LTE frequencies with backwards compatibility to existing 2G/3G technologies, allowing Gobi 4G LTE devices to connect to the faster LTE network locally and stay connected to the Internet globally on 3G networks worldwide, the company has announced.

The company reported that the Gobi will be compatible with Android, Windows and Apple iOS.

In the press release, Qualcomm said that its latest Gobi 4G LTE connectivity reference platform includes embedded GPS capability and features an application programming interface (API) with LTE extensions, which is compatible with leading connectivity standards, including CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B, HSPA+, dual-carrier HSPA+, TD-SCDMA and LTE, with integrated backwards compatibility to HSPA and EV-DO.

Not only smartphones and tablets, Gobi will also enter into the laptop market and other electronic gadget to boost the connectivity features.

iPad 3 and 4G LTE

Apple fans have already got their hearts broken as the company did not introduce 4G LTE connection with iPhone 4S as expected. iPad 2 also lacks the 4G LTE support.

Apple executives at the time of releasing iPhone 4S indicated that they were not ready to compromise on the design of the device, which could be enforced by the inclusion of the last generation 4G LTE chipsets.

This time, however, Apple will launch 4G LTE network with iPad 3, confirmed various sources.

Some leaked images of the back panel of iPad 3 have also fueled predictions of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) support. Rumors suggest that iPad 3 is expected to come with a new, thinner LTE chipset to offer significantly higher download and upload speed compared to iPad 2 3G HSPA/HSPA+ and CDMA/EVDO networks.

With the launch of Qualcomm's Gobi Chip, 4G LTE Support for iPad 3 (even for iPhone 5) becomes quite a distinct possibility, believe experts.

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