iPad 3, iPhone 5 with LTE? Not so fast, carrier says

Last week, reports from Nikkei Business indicated that Apple was trying to bring an LTE model of the iPad to Japan by summer 2012, and an LTE iPhone later in the year. But those claims have been denied by the rumored carrier, NTT DoCoMo.

Now, it could be that the carrier is reluctant to tip its hat about any negotiations while they’re still in progress, but it’s a fairly definitive statement if taken at face value. LTE connectivity is one of the most wished-for features for iPhone owners, according to a recent study from ChangeWave Research. Consumers have made similar statements about the iPad, which also lacks the super-fast connection. Apple CEO Tim Cook said at the Verizon iPhone launch that LTE chips would have required too many design compromises; others have speculated that LTE would be too taxing on the phone’s battery life. Features aside, the most important speculation surrounding the next generation of the iPad is the release date, which — according to Apple’s regular schedule — is expected in March 2012. But Apple hasn’t been adhering to its normal schedules, leaving gift-buyers trying to decide what to do in order to avoid gadget buyers’ remorse after the holidays.