It would be interesting to know the cost differential between HSDPA and HSDPA+ chips. It is curious though that HSUPA is not available to the iPad, unless of course the block is my provider. O2 use a different APN for each device.
Its actually just called HSPA+ not HDSPA+. I'll explain that in a second.I think the hardware difference is just because the iPad is older than the phone.
-If I say HSDPA 7.2 then it is only hsdpa
-if I say HSPA 7.2 then it is HSDPA 7.2 with HSUPA (forget the corresponding hsupa speed for HSDPA 7.2 but you get the idea)
-if I say HSPA+ it's the newest upgrade combining the fastest HSUPA upgrade and the fastest HSDPA together in one upgrade.
-the number after the abbreviation is the max theoretical speed of the chipset so HSDPA 14.4 has a theoretical max speed of 14.4 megabits vs a raw UMTS connection only having a max of 300KB/s (yeah slow so much for "3G" however most networks having some type of HSDPA installed even if it's only 3.6)
HSDPA= high speed downlink packet access
HSUPA= highspeed uplink packet access
HSPA= high speed packet access, it's also used as a general term to describe the updates.
and these are all upgrades to the standard called UMTS (universal mobile terrestrial system) that is basically the evolution path to GSM. Yes I know way to many terms haha. Their is a cost difference and of course manufacturing demand. The matter of the fact is more electronics companies are only buying the "slower" chipsets because their are more phones and simpler devices then say tablet computers that might enjoy HSPA+ or even HSPA 14.4. Hope that clears that all up haha
