Cell phone built into Powerbooks(true wireless)

[moav]

I am assuming that sometime later this year either 10.3 or the new powerbooks will be the first laptops with built in cellular capabilities. With most carriers offering web access through their phones it would be relatively easy for Apple to add a small software or hardware based sim cell phone card into each powerbook. We already have the screen, antenna, battery, keyboard that is needed. This would truly make Apple Powerbook products revolutionary. With the advent of QT 7 around the corner with built in video conferencing capabilities and the new Dokomo pact Apple's users could virtually hold video conferences on the road at the beach or in their cars. From a simple phone call through our powerbooks or holding a video conference with manufacturers Apple will have brought true mobility once and for to their customers. With the ability to add or purchase region specific software sim cards for the new powerbook line, boundries do not exist.

[senne]

another example of people choosing wrong Thread-titles, but ohwell...


cool idea though!

[AdmiralAK]

yeah, misleading thread title!

On a side issue having builtin mobile connection on a powerbook is a BAD idea, why ? technologies change, but mac laptops and mac computers are built to last.

GSM is the current leading standard followed by CDMA 1x. Apple would have to incorporate both technologies in their cell-enables powerbook. Also CDMA carriers would HAVE to have SIM cards because there are already hassles trying to activate phones NOT bought on their network, imagine a laptop, and imagine if there were competitior's laptops

I think having cell phones that have bluetooth built in and laptops with bluetooth built in is a better wireless solution

[kenny]

Actually, that's almost what's happening with the new powerbooks. They've got Bluetooth built in, which, in turn, allows communication with whatever mobile phone you have (assuming it does BT). Use GPRS with this, and you're there. No need to build mobile phone tech into the powerbook (which is not where it really belongs anyway)...

[fryke]

Yup. The PowerBook is the digital mobile hub. The mobile phone is the medium to the mobile networks (or one of them, assuming that WiFi takes off even more). And Bluetooth is the 'cable' without wires. I'm actively using GPRS connections with my T68i and TiBook, and I WISH my TiBook had Bluetooth built in, because the stick sticks out and I have to disconnect it when bagging the 'book.

It's time I buy that 12" PowerBook, I guess.

[Dusky]

I'm actively using GPRS connections with my T68i and TiBook'

That's one thing I'd want to do when away from home: log on to the net from my iBook. Do you have to pay extra fees to your service provider, or are you simply using regular dial-up?

[symphonix]

Besides, you'd be surprised where you get wireless coverage now anyway. Luthansa have recently begun trialling putting 802.11b points in their aircraft, so that laptop users can have cable-speed internet at 30,000 ft.

You won't be seeing a GPRS phone built in to any Mac in the forseeable future. Apple announced an alliance with Sony-Ericson at a MacWorld last year, and it wouldn't be good business practice to throw that out the window.

Also, GPRS is relatively expensive to implement. The 802.11g standard that Apple is implementing in Airport Extreme (which doesn't become a standard until later this year) re-uses the chipsets from 802.11a hardware which means they can build it cheaply. It gets the range of 802.11a on the band used by 802.11b. It is backward compatible, so 802.11g access points could replace 802.11b ones without any of the client computers or antenna hardware needing to be updated.
And the base station can work as a repeater, to fill in coverage gaps without needing to be wired into the network.

I'm confident GPRS will catch on more in the future, but for now the more established wireless technologies are the most effective.

[AdmiralAK]

GPRS is an intermediate technology which will lead to EDGE and eventually to 3G GSM (aka wCDMA).

With GPRS, depending on your provider you can get unlimited data plan. I know T-Mobile has a plan for $50 with unlimited data, however this is only on their Sidekick pda/phone AFAIK. -- Why settle for GRPS (i.e.e 56k wireless) when you can get an a wireless hub & DSL