HP’s LTE Chromebook 11 to skip on 3G hardware, says chip supplier Altair

Update: Best Buy is already listing the new model online for $379 (via Liliputing).

Reuters is reporting a claim by Israel’s Altair Semiconductor that HP will be launching a LTE-only Chromebook 11, with connectivity provided by the company’s chips.

“Our solution equips the Chromebook with a dependable and incredibly fast Internet connection,” said Eran Eshed, vice president of marketing and business development at Altair. “By focusing on 100 percent LTE and eliminating costly 3G components, we were able to help our partners lower the cost of this critical LTE connectivity feature” …

Google’s high end Chromebook Pixel is also LTE-only but the move for a more bargain-centric product has some folks scratching their heads….

The new model will be based on the wifi-only Chromebook 11, launched in October last year for $279. That model was powered by a Samsung Exynos 5250 ARM processor, 16GB storage, 2GB RAM and an 11.6-inch 1366×768 IPS display.

That model was briefly recalled due to over-heating chargers before going back on sale with an updated power adapter.

I’m a little surprised that including a 3G chip could cost enough to amount to a worthwhile saving, but I guess, like the Pixel,  it’s a vote of confidence in the coverage offered by Verizon’s LTE network.