6/15/2K: One of our anonymous field operatives sent in this
report. Thanks, KT!
Apple has registered AirSurf as a trademark. That's all
most people know so far, but I've got inside sources
spilling the guts on this development.
Turns out this innovation goes hand in hand with another
rumored product, one that was actually denied by Apple. Apple
and Palm Computing have been developing an Apple branded Palm
device.
The new product will come in two configurations, one for
consumers and one for professionals, making a new row on Apple's
product grid. Sources very close to the operation report seeing the
names iPad and PowerPad printed on prototypes, which
would also adhere to Apple's product naming scheme. The iPad will
be a Palm III, but in a much more colorful casing. It will be
available in two colors, tangerine and blueberry, the same
as the iBook. The PowerPad will build off the Palm VII and be cased
with the graphite color scheme. This is where AirSurf comes into
play.
Instead of the cellular modem used in the Palm VII, the PowerPad
will have an AirPort card, allowing it to communicate
wirelessly with any Airport network,and letting it surf the
Internet. The iPad will have the AirPort card as an option, not a
standard feature.
Now that's not too amazing. In fact, it's what one would expect
from Apple. This is what will shock you: the AirPort card inside of
the PowerPad is not an ordinary AirPort card. It's an AirSurf
modem base station! Insiders at Lucent Technologies confirm
that the AirSurf modem is a modified AirPort Base Station with a
wireless modem connection. This means a PowerPad could allow other
Macs (equipped with AirPort) to surf the Internet through the
wireless AirSurf modem connection without another AirPort base
station present. The connection speed would be limited to 56K, but
imagine the possibilities. The PowerPad will be the first product
to receive the AirSurf modem. In the next few years, expect to see
them installed in iBooks and PowerBooks
Prices for the iPad will be within the Palm III's range,
somewhere around $150 to $180. The PowerPad will be priced much
higher due to AirSurf, in the range of $500 to $750, but it
will be worth every penny. (Remember, Apple already charges $299
for the AirPort Base Station.)
That's not all - the AirSurf modem, in addition to being
installed in the PowerPad, may be offered separately. If so, it
wouldn't look much different than the AirPort Base Station, except
for having no wire connections whatsoever. Internet connections
could then be made for groups of Macs where there are no phone
lines. This would be extremely useful on school field trips or
family vacations.
With AirSurf, the possibilities will be endless.
- Anne Onymus
