In case you missed it, The Wall Street Journal’s Lorraine Luk and Jessica Vascellarotoday add fuel to rumors of alternate possible sizes that could come for Apple’s (AAPL) iPadofferings, while the Spencer Ante and Jessica Vascellaro add to prior speculation that an upcoming iPad will use faster 4G wireless connections.
The writers relate that Apple is testing an iPad with an 8-inch screen with suppliers’ help, citing multiple anonymous sources, while cautioning that Apple tests new devices all the time and may not actually bring such a device to market.
The article notes late Apple founder Steve Jobs’s public disdain for smaller-sized tablets, and it also refers to speculation that the next iPad, in the existing 9.7-inch screen size, will be introduced in “early March.”
A second piece, by Ante and Vascellaro, says that Verizon Communications (VZ) and AT&T(T) will sell the new iPad coming out in march with wireless capabilities for their so-called LTE networks for 4G service, again citing multiple anonymous sources.
In a note to clients this morning, Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee writes that the LTE description is “not surprising” and that it is “consistent with our supply chain checks.”
The upgrade could help put distance between the iPad and competitors such asAmazon.com’s (AMZN) “Kindle Fire” tablet, he reckons:
We believe this significant refresh will likely help drive higher iPad sales and help further differentiate from arguably the only real competitor in the market, AMZN’s Kindle Fire and not to mention the myriad of GOOG Android offerings out there. We are currently modeling 51 million iPad shipments for CY12 and believe this could turn out conservative.
Wu has a Buy rating on Apple shares and a $550 price target.
Apple shares this morning are up $3.15, or 0.6%, at $505.75 in early trading.
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