“One of our AT&T connects down south just hit us up with some pretty interesting info… According to them, AT&T stores will be selling the 3G version of the Apple iPad, complete with built-in display. We’re told that the general plan is to convert one or two existing netbook display sections in each corporate AT&T location into a pretty substantial iPad display area.”

Mobile app analytics company Flurry, keeps track of mobile applications used by people. They found 50 devices being used by people from Cupertino with characteristics of an Apple Tablet. Most of the applications running on the devices are games, which comes as no surprise. Apple has been focussing on the gaming industry since the launch of the iPod touch and admitted it last year. Other applications used by the Apple’s employees belong to the entertainment, news, lifestyle, and utilities categories.

The thing that catches my eyes is that the devices are using iPhone applications that are available in iTunes already. This seems to prove that the tablet can run iPhone games and other applications as well. Another thing that catches my attention is the fact the devices seem to run iPhone OS 3.2. That firmware version has not been launched yet, but a tablet running iPhone OS is not exactly what I hoped for.

The next subject I want to discuss is the fact that this Wednesday, AT&T’s iPhone exclusivity might end. This opens the possibilities for other mobile carriers to start selling the iPhone as well.

“According to an inside source close to the going-ons involved in all of this, a new tablet of some sort may not be the only thing on deck for next Wednesday though. We have been led to believe by an inside source that AT&T will lose their iPhone exclusivity on the same day, though it’s not yet clear what other carrier (or carriers) will be stepping in to also carry the phone”

Another piece of information regarding mobile carriers explains the colors on the invitations for Apple’s media event. Each color seems to be a hint to a mobile carrier. Pink means T-Mobile, blue means AT&T, green means Clear etc. Take a look at the picture below.

This is what an analyst says about a possible interpretation of the colors:

“T-Mobile USA Inc. will get the phone this summer, followed by Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp. in the fall, and Clearwire Corp. in 2011, Horan wrote in a note yesterday. AT&T Inc. has been the exclusive carrier since the iPhone debuted in June 2007.”

Back to the Flurry statistic. The New York Times seems to confirm the fact that 50 tablet devices were running iPhone games:

“It will run all the applications of the iPhone and iPod Touch, have a persistent wireless connection over 3G cellphone networks and Wi-Fi, and will be built with a 10-inch color display, allowing newspapers, magazines and book publishers to deliver their products with an eye to the design that had grabbed readers in print.”

And last but not least the financial results Apple announced yesterday. Last quarter of Apple’s fiscal year of 2010 that started in October 2009, has been the most successful quarter ever. The first quarter ended on December 26, 2009 and has been the most profitable so far.

The company posted revenue of $15,68 billion with a net quarterly profit of $3,38 billion. The same quarter last year brought a net quarterly profit of $2,26 billion to Apple’s bank account. Apple sold 3,36 million Macs. That’s 33% more than last year. They also sold 21 million iPods and 8,7 million iPhones. Steve Jobs said the following:

“If you annualize our quarterly revenue, it’s surprising that Apple is now a $50+ billion company,” said Steve Jobs. “The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we’re really excited about.”

Source: Flurry (tablet statistics) / AT&T iPhone exclusivity / Invitations explained / Financial results

“Nevertheless, Apple is in talks with both AT&T and Verizon to support the tablet, according to sources within the companies: One version of the device will run on CDMA networks such as Verizon’s, and one will operate on GSM networks like that owned by AT&T.”

In earlier reports the Apple Tablet is expected to have Wi-Fi connectivity and have optional 3G service for internet use when you’re away from home. If deals are reached by next week’s event, Fox News doesn’t believe data pricing plans will be settled by that time. I think that doesn’t have to be a problem, because it is very likely Apple is going to launch the tablet later this year. So there’s plenty of time. On the other hand, I think it would be wise to inform the audience at next week’s event about the price of the product and the price of the optional data plans.

Source: Fox News

According to a Broadpoint AmTech analyst, Apple plans to offer 3G wireless data networking on their Tablet with multiple providers. And Verizon is a “certainty”, the analyst says.

If the analyst is right then this means customers can choose from a number of mobile providers, like Verizon or AT&T or any other provider that sells the device. This allows Tablet users to check their email, browse their web, download App Store applications and more wherever there is 3G service.

If this is indeed Apple’s plan, then I think that’s a very good move. More people will buy the device because they can then choose their favorite provider for their Tablet’s data service. It’s a win win situation. And with all the other tablet computers coming out this year, there will be a huge competition between the different companies. Hopefully this means the Apple Tablet will not have such a high price tag.

This would mean that customers will be able to choose from a number of mobile providers for their Tablet’s data service when not near a Wi-Fi hotspot. This would allow Tablet users to browse the web, check their email, and more wherever there was 3G service. Such connectivity is taken for granted on mobile phones such as the iPhone, but is increasingly expected for other mobile devices.