SAN FRANCISCO—January 27, 2010—Apple® today introduced iPad, a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch™ display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds— thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. iPad will be available in late March starting at the breakthrough price of just $499.
“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”
iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. Reading and sending email is fun and easy on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard. Import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD or flip through pages of an e-book you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.
iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. The iTunes® Store gives you access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in stunning high definition video. Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.
Apple also introduced a new version of iWork® for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages®, Keynote® and Numbers® you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each.
iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.
iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle. The highly precise, capacitive Multi-Touch display is amazingly accurate and responsive whether scrolling web pages or playing games. The
intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.
iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours.* Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.**
iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management.
Continuing Apple’s dedication to designing and creating environmentally responsible products, each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free.
Apple today released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPad, so developers can create amazing new applications designed to take advantage of iPad’s capabilities. The SDK includes a simulator that lets developers test and debug their iPad apps on a Mac, and also lets developers create Universal Applications that run on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
Pricing & Availability iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. iBookstore will be available in the US at launch.
*Apple tested wireless battery life by browsing web pages and receiving email over an AirPort® network, never letting the system go to sleep during the test, and keeping the display at half brightness. This is a typical scenario of use on the go, resulting in a battery performance number that is very relevant to mobile users.
**A properly maintained iPad battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wireless Mobility Enhances Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma
With today’s high speed of business, no one can be disconnected or isolated.
Mobile employees are critical to the success of your production
operations. They are also critical to your Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma
program. These employees include material handlers, maintenance mechanics,
plant operators, and others who by the nature of their work need
to move around your plant. They include first level supervisors
and engineering support personnel because
they are often on the move to “go and see” issues in
manufacturing operations. They include those in supply
chain functions for warehousing, delivery and aftermarket
service. This awareness of manufacturing extends
to salespeople to know what is available.
Lean Manufacturing
Mobile technology improves the capability of these constituencies to contribute
to your continuous improvement program. Managing mobile assets
with business processes that are embedded in your IT systems provides
“Business Process Mobilization” (BPMo) that improves your value streams.
Wireless eliminates friction in your business processes to improve execution
in speed, quality and cost. For a Lean Manufacturing program,
examine your value stream maps for process steps that can be improved.
Those steps that were identified as “Non-Value
Added” (NVA) but “required” can often be streamlined
with mobility technologies.
Six Sigma
Within a Six Sigma program, examine the measure
and analyze phases of your DMAIC process. Manual
data collection becomes polluted with data
entry errors. Wireless technology provides flexibility
through improved data collection quantity and
quality for the measure phase of Six Sigma projects.
For the control phase of projects, wireless technology
extends your network infrastructure to include
processes that otherwise could not be monitored.
For example, sensors can be attached to moving parts of equipment for improved
process control and quality. Also, for equipment that is too far from the wired infrastructure where a wired connection is too expensive or takes
too long can be connected now. Your management systems and exception
reports are extended to include the edges of your operations.
If you would like to learn more, ask for the ARC whitepaper.
We can also arrange for a discussion that is specific to your organization.
Mobile employees are critical to the success of your production
operations. They are also critical to your Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma
program. These employees include material handlers, maintenance mechanics,
plant operators, and others who by the nature of their work need
to move around your plant. They include first level supervisors
and engineering support personnel because
they are often on the move to “go and see” issues in
manufacturing operations. They include those in supply
chain functions for warehousing, delivery and aftermarket
service. This awareness of manufacturing extends
to salespeople to know what is available.
Lean Manufacturing
Mobile technology improves the capability of these constituencies to contribute
to your continuous improvement program. Managing mobile assets
with business processes that are embedded in your IT systems provides
“Business Process Mobilization” (BPMo) that improves your value streams.
Wireless eliminates friction in your business processes to improve execution
in speed, quality and cost. For a Lean Manufacturing program,
examine your value stream maps for process steps that can be improved.
Those steps that were identified as “Non-Value
Added” (NVA) but “required” can often be streamlined
with mobility technologies.
Six Sigma
Within a Six Sigma program, examine the measure
and analyze phases of your DMAIC process. Manual
data collection becomes polluted with data
entry errors. Wireless technology provides flexibility
through improved data collection quantity and
quality for the measure phase of Six Sigma projects.
For the control phase of projects, wireless technology
extends your network infrastructure to include
processes that otherwise could not be monitored.
For example, sensors can be attached to moving parts of equipment for improved
process control and quality. Also, for equipment that is too far from the wired infrastructure where a wired connection is too expensive or takes
too long can be connected now. Your management systems and exception
reports are extended to include the edges of your operations.
If you would like to learn more, ask for the ARC whitepaper.
We can also arrange for a discussion that is specific to your organization.
The Truth About the Verizon Wireless Map Campaign
The red map Verizon shows would have us believe that this is an indication of a superior data network across a broader area.
The blue AT&T map that is shown in the commercial would have us believe we are seeing an apple to apple comparison of data coverage and speed.
The actual AT&T data coverage map is above.
The facts are:
The term 3G is not a technical term and is not intended to convey industry consistent throughput speeds.
When comparing one provider's 3G to another, you are not necessarily comparing data speed capabilities.
The red map Verizon show is a combination of both versions of 3G they carry (EVDO REV-O and EVDO REV-A)
The blue map demonstrates only one version of three 3G iterations that AT&T operates.
This version is the most recently deployed HSPA (7.2 mbps)
The Truth is:
The 2G version (EDGE) that AT&T utilizes operates at higher speeds on the download than the first iteration of Verizon's 3G (EVDO REV-O).
The actual 3G coverage is much broader than you are led to believe.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Investing in our future: Wireless network improvements in 2009 and plans for 2010
John Stankey, president and CEO-AT&T Operations, updated analysts Thursday on our ongoing network investment to deliver the nation's most advanced mobile broadband experience. Wireless drives our growth and is our top investment priority in 2010.
Here are the highlights of his remarks, which covered our network enhancements in 2009 and our plans for 2010. These slides help tell the story of where we are with the wireless network and where we're going.
2010 plans
Our total 2010 capital expenditures are expected to be between $18 billion and $19 billion, 5 to 10 percent higher than 2009. These plans include an increase of approximately $2 billion in wireless network and backhaul investment, which will help ensure continued strong results in network performance.
Highlights of our 2010 wireless investment plans include:
• Aggressive deployment of fiber-optic backhaul — three times our 2009 fiber deployment — to support faster 3G speeds. A software upgrade to HSPA 7.2 was completed earlier this year. We expect the majority of our mobile broadband traffic to be riding on these enhanced backhaul connections by the end of the year.
• Expanded deployment of Ethernet-based backhaul.
• About 2,000 new cell sites.
• Adding new radio controllers and carriers at a pace that doubles deployment in 2009.
• Field trials of LTE (Long Term Evolution, the technology we'll use to deliver a 4G broadband experience to our customers).
• Aggressive plans to boost capacity and improve performance in New York City and San Francisco.
2009 accomplishments
We serve twice as many smartphone customers as our nearest competitor. This has led to more than 5,000 percent growth in mobile broadband use on our network over the past three years.
We responded to this growth by investing billions to enhance and expand our wireless network. In 2009, we:
• Added about 1,900 new cell sites.
• Installed more than 100,000 new backhaul connections, four times the number installed in 2008.
• Doubled the number of cell cites served by fiber-optic backhaul connections.
• Added high-quality 850 MHz spectrum to serve 3G customers in hundreds of markets.
• Expanded 3G coverage to reach more than 360 markets and 75 percent of the population.
These upgrades have delivered substantial results:
• We've maintained the nation's fastest 3G network.
• Our 3G voice Composite Quality Index went up 22 percent over the year, based on internal data.
• Our national dropped-call percentage rate was 98.68 percent, based on external data, which is within two-tenths of 1 percent of the only higher score in the industry.
• Broadband data download throughput (end-to-end speed) was up 19 percent by the end of 2009.
• 3G blocked calls are down 25 percent year over year, based on internal data.
• 3G dropped calls are down 22 percent year over year, based on internal data.
When you combine these network investments with the nation's-largest Wi-Fi footprint and unsurpassed lineup of smartphones and emerging devices, you can see that we're at the forefront of enabling the benefits of mobile broadband.
Here are the highlights of his remarks, which covered our network enhancements in 2009 and our plans for 2010. These slides help tell the story of where we are with the wireless network and where we're going.
2010 plans
Our total 2010 capital expenditures are expected to be between $18 billion and $19 billion, 5 to 10 percent higher than 2009. These plans include an increase of approximately $2 billion in wireless network and backhaul investment, which will help ensure continued strong results in network performance.
Highlights of our 2010 wireless investment plans include:
• Aggressive deployment of fiber-optic backhaul — three times our 2009 fiber deployment — to support faster 3G speeds. A software upgrade to HSPA 7.2 was completed earlier this year. We expect the majority of our mobile broadband traffic to be riding on these enhanced backhaul connections by the end of the year.
• Expanded deployment of Ethernet-based backhaul.
• About 2,000 new cell sites.
• Adding new radio controllers and carriers at a pace that doubles deployment in 2009.
• Field trials of LTE (Long Term Evolution, the technology we'll use to deliver a 4G broadband experience to our customers).
• Aggressive plans to boost capacity and improve performance in New York City and San Francisco.
2009 accomplishments
We serve twice as many smartphone customers as our nearest competitor. This has led to more than 5,000 percent growth in mobile broadband use on our network over the past three years.
We responded to this growth by investing billions to enhance and expand our wireless network. In 2009, we:
• Added about 1,900 new cell sites.
• Installed more than 100,000 new backhaul connections, four times the number installed in 2008.
• Doubled the number of cell cites served by fiber-optic backhaul connections.
• Added high-quality 850 MHz spectrum to serve 3G customers in hundreds of markets.
• Expanded 3G coverage to reach more than 360 markets and 75 percent of the population.
These upgrades have delivered substantial results:
• We've maintained the nation's fastest 3G network.
• Our 3G voice Composite Quality Index went up 22 percent over the year, based on internal data.
• Our national dropped-call percentage rate was 98.68 percent, based on external data, which is within two-tenths of 1 percent of the only higher score in the industry.
• Broadband data download throughput (end-to-end speed) was up 19 percent by the end of 2009.
• 3G blocked calls are down 25 percent year over year, based on internal data.
• 3G dropped calls are down 22 percent year over year, based on internal data.
When you combine these network investments with the nation's-largest Wi-Fi footprint and unsurpassed lineup of smartphones and emerging devices, you can see that we're at the forefront of enabling the benefits of mobile broadband.
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