It really looks like we could get cell-connected Apple Watches later this year

The rumor that the next Apple Watch will finally include cellular connectivity is gaining momentum, making it seem more likely that the company will introduce its first standalone wearable later this year.

The inclusion of an LTE chip was first suggested by noted insider Mark Gurman, and now, two more typically reliable sources have corroborated his original report with even more detail.

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is one of the most respected Apple insiders in the industry, and CNBC both released predictions of their own. The reports both claim that Apple will bring a Watch to the market with LTE chips included, enabling users to get online without a connection to an iPhone to do things like download apps, stream music, and potentially even make calls.

Kuo's research note, which was picked up by 9to5Mac and other Apple-focused publications, largely confirms Gurman's report. Apple will likely bring internet connectivity to the watch via Intel LTE chips, according to Kuo, which means the Watches will not be able to connect to 3G networks. There will likely be a new non-LTE version of the device released as well, which would feature small improvements to boost processing speed and battery life.

CNBC's report more explicitly mentions standalone calling as a key feature to a new cell-connected Apple Watch, citing a source "with knowledge of the matter." The publication claims the Watch will feature Intel modems, along with an embedded SIM card to provide the connectivity, and echoed all of the claims made in Gurman's original report.

Unfortunately, both of the new reports quash the rumor that Apple will debut a new form factor with the next generation of the Watch, a suggestion that was first floated by insider John Gruber following the original report. Kuo expects the new Watch will be released in the familiar 38mm and 42mm cases we've seen from Apple before, with no change to the design.

A new form factor and standalone functionality could make the next Watch a can't-miss device, as I suggested recently — but even the same old Watch design with the new capabilities could be hard to pass up. We'll see what Apple has to offer soon, with all sources predicting that the company will stick to its cyclical release calendar with a big event in September.