Hasta La Gadget!

Apple’s loose-lipped overseas partners are exchanging whispers about the next-generation iPad, claiming it will come in three different versions, one of which would work with Verizon’s network.

The iPad 2 will support three different wireless configurations: UMTS, CDMA and Wi-Fi only, according to “industry sources quoted by DigiTimes” citing component makers. That’s up from the two versions Apple currently offers: UMTS plus Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi only.

To explicate the alphabet soup, UMTS is the standard used by major 3G carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, while CDMA is compatible with Verizon and Sprint networks.

Currently the 3G iPad ships with a MicroSIM card slot, and in the United States, the only carrier that uses MicroSIM is AT&T. Customers who want to connect to non-AT&T 3G networks must either buy an external wireless hotspot device such as the Verizon MiFi (Verizon already sells a MiFi plus iPad package) or trim a standard SIM card down to MicroSIM size, like Wired.com’s Charlie Sorrel.

The current 3G model of the iPad is not tied to a contract: Customers pay a flat monthly rate for data and can opt out whenever they please.

So if this rumor is true, it means that when the iPad 2 ships, you’ll have to pick a 3G model based on your carrier preference. If you don’t plan to be on the road a lot, there’s still the Wi-Fi option.

Support for both major wireless standards in the United States will make the iPad 2 available to a much larger potential audience, whereas before it was only available in the states from AT&T.

Whether Apple hammers out sales agreements with Verizon or Sprint remains to be seen.

Recent rumors suggestion that the iPad 2 will hit stores April 2011, one year after the original iPad’s release. Some third-party protective cases for a purported “iPad 2″ have been cropping up in Asia, hinting at the possibility of a bigger speaker and a rear-facing camera.

Persistent rumors — so far unsubstantiated — have also pointed to a Verizon-compatible iPhone to be released in early 2011. If Verizon gets the iPhone and the iPad, it would greatly expand Apple’s potential market, and would also likely deal a severe blow to AT&T, which has been roundly criticized for the inability of its 3G network to keep up with iPhone-induced demand.

See Also:

• Verizon to Sell Apple’s iPad, But Is iPhone Next?
• With iPad, Apple Still Has a Fatal Attraction for AT&T
• AT&T Sees iPad as Wi-Fi Driven, Not a 3G Hog

Photo: Current iPad
Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Is your Droid not finding its way to the internet mothership? Don’t worry, it’s not your hardware, it’s your carrier’s wireless connection — or the lack thereof, to be more precise. We’ve heard from a bunch of folks this morning that Verizon’s 3G network is experiencing a slight bout of disconnectedness, causing a great deal of grief and discombobulation around the country. Just sit tight, we’re sure engineers are engineering solutions as we type this, and will update you as soon as things have been rectified.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Some parts of the country are reporting their 3G service has been restored, though it’s not yet certain that all troubles have been ironed out. Our own Droids seem to be working fine now, how about yours?

Verizon 3G network goes down nationwide, everybody panic! (update: back up for some) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 04:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You know those voice minutes you’ve been coaxed into buying for, like, ever? Now would be an awesome time to bid ’em adieu. Out of nowhere, Viber has swooped in to crush the dreams of Skype and every other VoIP provider out there, and if these guys can reach critical mass, avid iPhone users will certainly be able to buy a mobile plan with fewer minutes. It works as such: install the free app on your iPhone, provide just your phone number (no “registration” is necessary) and then fire it up. Viber uses your existing contact and favorites list, and you can make Viber or standard voice calls from within the app; naturally, a Viber logo pops up beside any contact who is also a user, making it easy to see who you can VoIP call for free. As our brethren over at TUAW point out, there’s simply no catch to be found — well, except for those of you counting your kilobytes on AT&T’s newer, metered data plans. Call quality was said to be excellent over 3G and WiFi, and potentially best of all, gratis SMS and an Android version are both on the way. Head on past the break if you need any additional convincing, and tap that iTunes link to get your download on. So, AT&T, what’s the value proposition on those “rollover minutes” again?

Continue reading Viber VoIP iPhone app: 3G calling, no registration, and totally free

Viber VoIP iPhone app: 3G calling, no registration, and totally free originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 22:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon’s first LTE dongle is startlingly large. But not as startling as the speed. More »

Here we go: Verizon’s LTE network is launching on Dec. 5 in 38 markets and 60 airports—going nationwide by 2013—with two USB sticks from LG and Pantech supplying the superfast goodness. But just how fast is it? More »