Tech Shout!

A renowned rumor site, reportedly states that a 3G version of Apple’s iPhone will be set for a launch by January 2008.

According to AppleInsider, a Swedish company has been promised by its mobile phone service provider that the 2G version of the iPhone as announced in the US would be available in September, with a 3G version following in January 2008.

3G in general and HSDPA (high speed download packet access) offers incredibly faster downloads than the EDGE networks that the iPhone was originally developed for. Though HSDPA is uncommon in the US, it has been widely installed in Europe and other countries including Australia.

Internet access is typically faster over HSDPA links than it is via Wi-Fi connections.

One probable downer is that several 3G phones already on the market have front-mounted cameras for video calls, whereas the iPhone’s lens is on the back as it is on most 2G camera phones.

Although Telstra has the largest 3G network in Australia, it has tried to bring down iPhone’s importance. The other mobile carriers - 3, Optus and Vodafone - all have 3G networks and are potential partners. An international deal with Vodafone - which claims over 186 million customers in 27 countries - might be an attractive prospect for Apple.