iPhone 5 Release Date: Apple Working on 4G LTE Smartphone for 2012

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, October 27, 2011

Apple is working on a 4G LTE smartphone for 2012, according to DigiTimes.

The technology website cited industry sources in Taiwan who revealed that Apple is planning to join competitors, such as Nokia, RIM and Sony Ericsson, and release a smartphone that will be compatible with 4G networks in 2012.

This smartphone could be the rumored and long awaited re-designed iPhone 5.

The new iPhone 5 would join Android handsets created by HTC, Samsung, Motorola and LG who currently lead the United States market with a 60 percent share of 4G customers, according to DigiTimes’ sources.

Apple has not rushed to release a 4G device.

Apple’s current CEO Tim Cook said the first generation LTE chipsets “force a lot of design compromises” that the company is unwilling to make.

LTE chipsets need to integrate 3G in areas where 4G is not available, according to Will Strauss, the president of wireless chip market research firm Forward Concepts.

Chips with this capability will not be available until next year.

Apple is aiming to create a 4G smartphone that is not too clunky like some of Android’s models, according to Strauss.

“They’re saving iPhone 5 for the LTE version and that won’t be out until next spring,” said Strauss to CNet.

Verizon is the current leader in the U.S. with its 4G LTE network and AT&T is attempting to catch-up by making its own LTE network available in five cities.

Sprint is also planning to debut its own LTE network sometime next year.