Cell phone built into Powerbooks(true wireless)

moav

moav

Hunter of Muffins
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.
 
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 :p

I think having cell phones that have bluetooth built in and laptops with bluetooth built in is a better wireless solution
 
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)...
 
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. :)
 
I'm actively using GPRS connections with my T68i and TiBook'
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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?
 
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.
 
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 :)
 
That would be a huge mistake. :)

The reason is that all many carriers use completely different systems. You'd have to subscribe to the "service" that Apple endorsed. If your a Sprint PCS CDMA user, you could be stuck with TDMA or GSM technologies, making your choice of carrier, mute.

Sprint and other companies have PCMCIA phones which work just fine and well supported by the PCMCIA slot in the Powerbook.

Scott
 
I think all we need here are a few drivers.

My Treo 300 from Sprint PCS comes with a usb cable used for syncing and internet access. Internet access only supported on windows. :(

I do think, however, that it would be in Apple's best interest to allow customers to pick a cellular provider, rather than building it in. It would simply things greatly.

As a side note, I'm sure apple has up and comming voice-over-ip ideas. Think ichat, bluetooth, and wifi extreme......
 
Originally posted by ScottW

Sprint and other companies have PCMCIA phones which work just fine and well supported by the PCMCIA slot in the Powerbook.
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You wouldn't be talking about the Sierra Wireless Access Card, would you? Our PCS Rep says its windows-only.

I've been looking for a mac solution... please share!!!
 
Originally posted by fryke
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. :)
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Fryke, then you'll have to disconnect the airport card every time you bag it. Airport is seperate on the 12inch.:(
 
integrated bluetooth + bluetooth phone + bluetooth headset = fantastic mobile phone solution. address book integration is very cool. hands-free dialing is getting better and better (it's nearly perfect on my t68i, it's just the headset that comes with the phone is way too sensitive).
 
I plugged my Sprint PCS Samsung A500 with the USB data cable in to OS X and it recognized it and worked the first time with no issues. PCS says it won't work on Mac, but it works better on Mac than it does on Windows.

Scott
 
Fryke, then you'll have to disconnect the airport card every time you bag it. Airport is seperate on the 12inch.
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I've seen Quicktime VR movies of the PB 12".... I don't see where you'd plug-in the airport card, if it's indeed external. Care to show us a picture or an article?
 
Thanks Scott for the heads up!

I'll have to poke arround some more, I suppose.

The 12" accepts air port on the INSIDE, as well as blue tooth. There's no need for a card. So, you won't have to disconnect some card or adaptor every time you bag it up.
 
I KNOW!!!
What about making the powerbook a giant flip-phone??

So then you just open the powerbook up and hold the screen by your ear. Apple simply puts an earpiece speaker above the screen, and a mouthpiece speaker below the keyboard!

Then when you're done talking you just snap the laptop back closed with one hand.

Ingenious....
 
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