[nobody314159265]

Unfortunately radio take a long time and a lot of money to get approval for, and the process is different for every country. And it's the entire 'system' that needs approval - you can't just say the chip is already used by everyone else.

That's why your laptop will often have the wifi+bluetooth model as a little simm card under a cover, it allows them to get the radio 'system' approved separately from the computer and use the same radio in different models without repeating the process.

[watmough]

Never thought of that. Of course, it explains why even super integrated, cost-engineered laptops like the MBP and even the iMac have a little PCIe card running the WiFi.

One benefit of this, is that there is a thriving marker for these things, to the point that you can get a pulled card off ebay for $12, a suitable PCI carrier card, and build a great little WiFi n card for cheap.