Canadian wireless carrier claims next-gen iPhone to arrive in June

By Katie Marsal
Published: 11:30 AM EST

Apple will stick with its June launch for a new iPhone this year, with the next-generation handset scheduled to be released in just a few months, according to one Canadian wireless provider.

According to the Regina Leader-Post, SaskTel, a Saskatchewan-based wireless provider, will offer the next-generation iPhone starting July 1. That will be after the company's new handset launches in June, said Robert Watson, president and CEO of SaskTel.

"The good news is that (Apple) is coming out with a new version of the iPhone in the June time-frame and they're going to put us on that," Watson was quoted as saying. "So we're quite excited about that."

SaskTel currently has a CDMA 3G network, but the company is switching to the GSM standard used by Apple's iPhone. The carrier plans to have its high-speed HSPA network launched by July 1, at which point it plans to offer the next-generation iPhone.

Apple is expected to introduce the new iPhone at is annual Worldwide Developers Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif., as it has done in years past. Late last year, WWDC 2010 was rumored to be held starting June 28, but more recent rumors suggested a launch date of June 22 for the device allegedly dubbed "iPhone HD." Other rumors have said the new handset will feature a custom A4 processor, 960x640 double-resolution display, and a second front-facing camera for video chat.

In March, a report from The Wall Street Journal alleged that Apple is working on two new iPhones. In addition to the one set to be released in June, the newspaper reported that a CDMA capable iPhone is planned for September production, and could possibly run on the Verizon network in the U.S.

Last week, Apple introduced iPhone OS 4, which will bring multitasking support to the iPhone 3GS, as well as the unannounced next-generation iPhone. The mobile operating system upgrade is scheduled to arrive this summer, and in years past a new iPhone OS release has coincided with the introduction of a new iPhone model.

In addition to hints of a forward facing camera and iChat sounds found within iPhone OS 4, the pre-release software has also suggested that the next-generation iPhone will include a camera flash to improve picture quality in dark or dimly lit places. In January, AppleInsider first reported that Apple was shopping for LED camera flash components, presumably for the forthcoming iPhone update.

It was June 8 last year when Apple introduced the iPhone 3GS. The handset went on sale June 19.


Credit to apple insider.com