If you thought that just because we are less than a week away from the official Apple media event, then we are done with the emergence of iPhone-related speculation and rumors, well, it’s probably the time to think again. Although Tim Cook and his team will take to the stage of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in just five days time, the sixth-generation iPhone rumor mill is still managing to grind out some new and rather interesting possibilities.
Over the last couple of months, we have heard speculation surround pretty much all aspects of the new iPhone, including but not limited to, the physical size and appearance of the iPhone 5, the inclusion of a new smaller dock connector, as well as the potential inclusion of Near Field Communications (NFC) technology. As we move closer to the actual unveiling of the device, attention is now being paid to the potential data options that users will have if they opt to purchase the iPhone 5.
Emerging reports are suggesting that Apple’s next smartphone will feature worldwide LTE functionality, potentially allowing consumers to receive lighting fast cellular data speeds no matter where they are in the world. Rather than being limited to a home provider, the inclusion would mean that the device could receive LTE coverage in places like Asia, Europe and The Americas, obviously based on the availability of LTE services.
As you might have come to expect from the world of smartphones, it isn’t just a case of Apple kitting their device out with the technology and everyone is happy. When it comes to LTE, the plot thickens a little with a number of carriers looking likely to not offer the LTE services to consumers, meaning the device would drop back onto normal 3G data in these areas or locations. In addition to that, Apple also have the threat of legal action from Samsung Electronics hanging over their heads due to the company holding over eight hundred LTE-based patents.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out, that although Apple, and Samsung continue to do business within certain divisions of their companies, the Korean electronics giants are less than happy with the Cupertino-based iPhone maker who was awarded over $1 billion in damages by a San Jose judge. If Apple does decide to roll-out the new iPhone with LTE functionality, then we could be about to See Samsung vs. Apple round two.
(via WSJ)
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.
