The Microsoft Surface 2 tablet has made it to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) database for AT&T's LTE and HSPA networks, according to Engadget.
Microsoft Vice President Panos Panay, who is in charge of Surface Computing, disclosed last fall that Microsoft was working on an LTE model that would be on AT&T in the United States and Vodafone in Europe. The price has yet to be revealed for the Surface 2 with LTE.
It is not clear how many have been waiting for the LTE model, especially if smartphones are now allowed to be mobile hotspots with no extra fees. However, Reticle Research principal analyst Ross Rubin said that some users might be willing to pay to avoid draining their phone batteries.
With Office support, Surface found a larger audience from the business sector, some of whom might be highly mobile and who would like to have that option of cellular connectivity.
To make it into the FCC database, the device must pass the commission's battery test to ensure that it is safe for consumers.
According to Rubin, Microsoft will do something new with pricing the Surface 2 with LTE, most likely another upfront hardware cost plus monthly access costs ($10 with a AT&T shared data plan). Microsoft could bundle its hardware with a discounted Windows Phone - a path already paved by Nokia with the Lumia 2520 tablet, offering a $200 discount on selected Window phones.
Unfortunately, potential buyers of Surface Pro 2 should not hold out for an LTE model since Microsoft ruled it out while announcing the device with LTE: Surface 2 runs Microsoft Windows RT OS, which cannot use the typical desktop software, and ships with pre-installed Office 213 RT. Surface Pro2 runs Windows 8's full-blown version.
