Apple Preparing To Embed 3G In Notebooks?
A job listing posted on Apple's Web site, which was first spotted by ComputerWorld and since removed, was advertising for a Communications QA Engineer. The requirements for the job include experience testing communications hardware, along with 3G wireless WAN.
That posting has kicked up the rumor mill with speculation that Steve Jobs and Co. may be considering embedding 3G capabilities into the hardware of Apple machines. As of now, the Cupertino Crew doesn't allow for those capabilities.
Meanwhile, competitors such as Acer and Asus are taking steps forward to embed and subsidize wireless connectivity into their notebooks in an attempt to make the systems more attractive to potential customers who are increasingly mobile.
Whether or not the posting for the QA engineer truly is indicative of a coming foray by Apple into the 3G arena remains to be seen. But, the fact that the job posting was removed after it was spotted does add some fuel to the rumors.
Specifically, the duties of the position include testing reporting hardware, software and device driver bugs for communications technology. Those technologies include AirPort (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth v2.0, Gigabit Ethernet and/or 3G Wireless WAN.
The requirements for the position are equally as telling, listing "in-depth knowledge of one or more Comms technologies, including Gigabit Ethernet for consumer- and enterprise-class workstations, Bluetooth v2.0, 3G Wireless WAN and Wi-Fi [802.11] a/b/g/n including all associated security modes, authentication types and protocols for Access Points and Clients."