iPad (surprise!) also will gain Verizon capabilities

Surprising no one, Bloomberg reports that an upcoming iPad will support Verizon’s network directly.

Verizon will get an embedded chip in the iPad for use on its network, Francis Shammo, chief financial officer of Verizon Communications Inc., the parent of the wireless unit, said today in an interview in New York. IPad users currently need an extra device to connect to Verizon’s network. Shammo declined to say when the change may happen.

This isn’t as likely to be as big a threat on AT&T because the iPhone issue has been mostly on dropped calls and AT&T’s network is technically faster (though not faster than LTE) than Verizon’s 3G.  Verizon’s 3G coverage is of course better.

The real questions are will that iPad be the iPad 2 (yes) and will that iPad do LTE (hope so!).