Leak shows Verizon getting 10-inch tablet, HSPA hotspot
updated 10:05 am EDT, Mon July 19, 2010
Verizon may have 10-inch BBerry tablet this fall
Verizon's future plans were spoiled in major fashion early today as multiple tips pointed out its device mix for the next few months. A source that provided photos of a pre-release Droid 2 also understands that a 10-inch tablet is enroute. The Engadget tipster had little extra insight, but it could be the often rumored BlackBerry tablet or the Android-based ICD Ultra.
The carrier is also rumored to be testing an EVDO iPad that could be available late this year or early 2011, though it hasn't been directly corroborated.
Also coming from the same source is word of the FiveSpot, a unique pocket router. The device would behave like a MiFi and share its 3G connection over Wi-Fi with its namesake five users, but unlike Novatel's device would support both EVDO for Verizon and UMTS or HSPA for carriers outside of the US. The hardware is far enough along in development that retail packaging exists and could be released relatively soon.
Other scoops have included a shot of a SIM card for Verizon's upcoming LTE-based 4G network and news of possible BlackBerry Curve and Storm sequels this fall. The Curve will most likely be a CDMA version of the Curve 9300, while the Storm could either be a CDMA 9800 slider or a more straightforward, touch-only sequel.
Verizon is due to launch LTE near the end of this year and should get between 5-12Mbps download speeds in real-world conditions, with latency as low as 30ms compared to 80ms or more even on modern HSPA+ 3G.
