Notorious hacker group Lulzsec finished off their string of fifty high-profile server hacks yesterday with a bang: they released some AT&T internal documents that reveals that AT&T have already tested the iPad running on their next-gen 4G LTE network.
The document describes LTE testing scenarios for the iPad, specifically with regards to activating iPads over a 4G LTE network:
Pre-LTE scenarios. Testing will include iPad new activations HLS using the new rate plan, as well as a regression on netbooks and dongles. During validation E2E execution should ensure all functionality new and current is still functioning properly by validating account set up, provisioning, usage and notifications.
SBP ST scenarios. Testing will include activations, add stacked plans, add international plans, perform customer service functions using the LTE devices. Testing will validate device is being provisioned and the proper policy from PCRF are being enforced. Usage should be added to decrement the account when needed in order to show RTDUNS are functioning properly.
Given the original dates of these documents (November through December 2010), our guess is that all these documents confirm is that AT&T has been making sure that their nascent LTE network does not interfere with existing iPad 3G activation or use. It does not prove that AT&T has an iPad 4G prototype in active testing.
Even so, when Apple does launch an LTE iOS device, they are likely to start with an iPad 4G: the iOS tablet’s much larger battery simply makes it a more robust device for the introduction of power-hungry LTE chipsets than the daintier iPhone. With that in mind, it’s good to see that, at the very least, AT&T is already working on making sure that when the iPad does make the leap to LTE, their network is ready for it.
[via MacTrast]
