A France Telecom executive Monday suggested Apple’s tablet would be released “in days.” Stephane Richard told also told a radio interviewer the device would include a Webcam.
Richard, deputy CEO of France Telecom, owner of mobile carrier Orange, made the comments in response to questions from journalist Jean-Pierre Elkabbach. When the interviewer asked Richard about a report in the French weekly Le Point that Apple would launch the tablet in a “couple days”, the executive replied “oui,” or yes.
Although this would appear to be the first on-record comment regarding the supposed Apple device, it is unclear from the interview whether the France Telecom second in command was confirming the tablet’s existence or simply the paper’s mention.
Other comments were also eagerly received, including Richard’s agreement the tablet would include a Webcam, which some took to indicate a 3G connection. This might be counter to reports a version of the tablet might be sold compatible with Verizon’s EVDO network.
Despite the confusion, a feeding frenzy has erupted as blogs, newspapers and other media attempt to obtain the latest information connected to Apple’s possible device. On Friday, a report suggested Apple had already received touchscreens for the device with aluminum enclosures expected in February. Earlier reports indicated Apple could make an announcement January 27 and begin selling the tablet in March.
The France Telecom executive also said that Orange sold 200,000 iPhones in December, despite an exclusive agreement with Apple being ruled illegal by the country’s competition panel.
[Via AppleInsider, Engadget, Electronista]
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
