Apple appears to have inadvertently exposed its plans for 3G-enabled personal computers, after eagle-eyed technology analysts spotted a (now-withdrawn) job advert on Apple’s website that sought an engineer with “experience of 3G Wireless WAN” technology.
The implication is that Apple is planning to bring its popular Macintosh personal computers into the mobile broadband space by embedding 3G-standard wireless modems within the devices. Currently, Macintoshes do offer local wireless connectivity, but not to 3G cellular mobile telephony standards.
This development suggests that Apple sees great opportunity to cross-sell its powerful computing devices to owners of smartphones or general users of wireless broadband services.
It’s a great idea, with the precedent having been set by rival laptop-makers such as Dell, Toshiba and Acer entering into agreements with mobile network operators to sell or ‘bundle’ low-cost computers with subscription plans to new or upgrading customers. However, pricing could be an issue, as consumers are already used to paying nothing or a nominal amount to get these notebook or netbook computers as well as a 3G phone.
Historically, Apple has preferred to charge highly for its products, which attract a keen following due to the products’ looks, performance, and brand cachet. So, would Apple want to enter the low-cost or discount market? Or would a 3G Macintosh be offered as a stand-alone product at a premium price? It’s difficult to see how it could justify doing so, given that spending on consumer electronics is falling rapidly and rivals are offering lower-cost (but also lower-spec) devices.
Apple has not commented on the story, though it has removed the advert from its website, which suggests that the media speculation may be near the mark.
The company has successfully galvanised the mass-market demand for converged multimedia devices with its iPhone, leaving bigger and more experienced rivals such as Nokia and Motorola struggling to catch up. It has also turned the mobile applications business into a ‘killer-app’ in its own right with the obvious-in-retrospect sales model used for its iTunes and App Store marketplaces.
So, other than ensuring it’s covering all possible bases by making its computers fully mobile, is Apple at last preparing to take on its rivals on the pricing front?
Hmm. ‘Food’ for thought…
Tags: 3G, Acer, App Store, Apple, bundle, Dell, iPhone, iPod, iTunes, laptop, Mac, Macintosh, mobile broadband, mobile computer, Motorola, netbook, Nokia, notebook, Toshiba, wireless broadband, wireless modem