What are the prospects of integrated LTE or 3G in a new Macbook Air?

[Jobsian]

One of the things I'm eagerly awaiting if there will indeed be the 11.6" Air, is whether or not some form of wireless cellular internet will be included.

I'm not fully aware of the feasibility of an LTE module, but it seems that notebooks with integrated 3G have been around for a few years. Having LTE would be a major attraction for me and would perhaps have me queue for the new Air an hour or two earlier!

I haven't seen many rumors on this possibility - will it be Apple's first notebook with simcard internet? Perhaps following the footsteps of the iPad? I hope so

 

[jav6454]

Doubtful for now, but as an add-in option, I bet it'll be around an extra $130

 

[Scottsdale]

I actually believe it makes sense for Apple to include a Verizon 3G card in every mobile Mac. Heck, Verizon would pay the $10 for actual costs of a 3G card just for the opportunity to sell some service at $40 per month to users. I actually think the future is headed more towards the MiFi devices that allow us to use one data plan with all of our devices, but why not sell it whenever possible to whoever possible?

My guesstimate would be 30% actual possibility that the MBA gets an update with a 3G card... but if it gets a 3G card, I would bet it's Verizon and not AT&T that gets the right to the customers. I think AT&T's days are numbered, and I believe the iPad selling agreement was the start of a beautiful business partnership... selling 10m Verizon iPhones in Q1 2011 seems like a fair assessment. But it's all guesswork as to where I see Verizon wanting to get in wherever it can and whenever it can... and Mac users are just the type to spend their premium dollars for the service.

 

[thinkdesign]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile6.0) Sprint T7380)

Do these my-fi type devices have their own battery that needs to be kept charged?

If so, the business of keeping all one's various batteries charged, is escalating again. Not to mention the weight of schlepping all the various chargers around. The iGo system seems to be limited to charging 2 things... but the heavyish way they build it (esp. the "Y" part) doesn't seem to be half the weight of 2 separate chargers... more like maybe 65%?

Seen in NYC's Port Authority bus station, 2nd floor, north building... at 7 PM: a guy sitting on the hard terazzo floor with his back against a brick-covered column, talking on his iPhone with the cord plugged into the wall outlet which is probably located there for the floor-polishing machine. A scene of a guy looking very uncomfortable, getting dirty (and probably wondering if he's about to be told "You can't do that."), weird for it's combination of affluence and nonaffluence.

Battery life matters.