"The tablet will be supported by multiple [mobile] carriers," said Brian Marshall of Broadpoint AmTech, citing unnamed sources he said were close to the situation. "Verizon and others," he continued. "Definitely Verizon. I've been told that's a certainty."

However, Richard Doherty, director of technology at the consulting firm Envisioneering Group, told the Wall Street Journal that he doesn't expect the tablet to connect a 3G network, in large part because of the high-profile problems AT&T, Apple's exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone, has had keeping up with data demand. "We don't think the networks are up to it," Doherty told the newspaper.

Marshall disagreed. "The tablet will connect to 3G," he said, "not just wireless [hotspots]."

The WSJ has said the iPad/iTablet would ship in March at a price tag of around US$1,000. (The graphic above -- a mock-up, not a real photo -- is courtesy of PC World.)