Your 3G iPhone questions, answered

Wondering what's up with all the fuss over a new iPhone? Here's your chance to catch up on all the rumors, speculation, and few cold, hard (and far-between) facts.

Wait a minute-I thought the iPhone just came out. What's all this about a new one?

Well, the first iPhones actually came out last June-an eternity when it comes to cell phones. Practically since day one, tech watchers have been speculating about when the next iPhone will be released, and it looks like the big day may be close at hand.

What's so wrong with the iPhone that's making everyone clamor for a new one?

Most new cell phones-or the high-end ones, at least (and at $299 and up, the iPhone qualifies as high-end)-boast 3G data access that lets you stream video, download music, and surf the Web at a decent clip (among other things). The original iPhone doesn't do 3G. Instead, it has EDGE, a somewhat slower cellular data network, and Wi-Fi.

Other complaints about the original iPhone: No GPS (for turn-by-turn directions), no user-replaceable battery, no tactile feedback for the touchscreen, and so-so battery life (most iPhone users have to recharge every night).

OK, so what does Apple say about the new iPhone?

Well, not much. Both Steve Jobs and the CEO of AT&T (the exclusive carrier for the iPhone) have said that a new, 3G-ready iPhone will be out this year. But other than that, Apple has remained (as usual) tight-lipped about when it will arrive, or what features it'll have.

Huh-so in that case, what makes you so sure that a new iPhone is imminent?

While you can't trust any one rumor about the new iPhone, all the signs seem to be pointing to a June release, including dwindling supplies of the original iPhone, the fact that the first iPhone will be a year old, leaks from overseas carriers and hardware manufacturers, and-most importantly-Steve Jobs' planned June 9 keynote at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference, where he's slated to discuss the iPhone's new firmware features and applications by third-party developers. Sounds like the perfect venue for unveiling a new iPhone.

What features will the new iPhone have?

Pretty much all we know for sure is that it'll support 3G. But based on the strength of the rumors, I'd say built-in GPS, more memory (potentially up to 32GB), and support for stereo Bluetooth headsets are almost certainly in the cards. Other rumored features being bandied about include video conferencing (I'm guessing one-way using AT&T's Video Share service, although two-way conferencing would be possible if the rumored front-facing camera is real), mobile TV (a rather nebulous rumor at this point), and tactile feedback for the touchscreen.

I heard something about a "mystery device" that Apple might announce in addition to the iPhone, maybe even an iPhone-like tablet. What's the deal there?

Pretty much total speculation at this point. Some rumor sites pointed to the rapidly dwindling supplies of the original iPhone as evidence that the 3G iPhone might arrive in May, not June, leaving room for a "mystery device" unveiling at next month's WWDC. Then, ZDNet.de reported that an Intel Germany exec let slip that Intel's new Atom chip would power a new, larger version of the iPhone. ZDNet.de later amended the story, noting that Intel "knows nothing" of upcoming Apple products. Hmmm.

Of course, Apple could always have a surprise up its sleeve ("One more thing..."), but there's no concrete evidence of that for now.

What will it look like?

A parade of would-be 3G iPhone spy shots has appeared on the Web in the past few months, but most have been debunked to one degree or another. The consensus seems to be that the new iPhone will have the same basic look as the older model: a candy-bar style handset and large touchscreen, with the brushed-metal back panel possibly going glossy this time out. It also sounds like the new iPhone will be slightly thicker than the original-which makes sense, given the needs of 3G and GPS technology-although earlier rumors pointed to a thinner, not thicker, case. Finally, there's talk that the iPhone could come in three colors-white, black, and silver-although again, that's just talk for now.

How much will it cost?

Those in the know say the 3G iPhone will probably (key word: probably) come in two flavors: an 8GB model for $399 and a 16GB version for $499. A third (possible) 32GB model could go for $599. In late April, however, word surfaced that AT&T might subsidize new iPhones to the tune of $200, which could make the 8GB model as cheap as $199. I haven't heard anything about AT&T iPhone subsidies since then, so I wouldn't take those rumors to the bank just yet.

When will it be available?

While it looks virtually certain that Steve Jobs will announce the 3G iPhone on June 9, that doesn't mean you'll be able to buy the new iPhone that very day. I'm guessing we'll have to wait until the end of the month-perhaps June 29, a year to the day since the first iPhones went on sale. Then again, Apple likes to have new products on shelves the day they're announced, so hey, you never know. [Update: Gizmodo says it has "confirmed" that the iPhone will be out "right after" the launch on June 9, but there's still no official word from Apple.] [Another update: My old pals at InfoSync World are now saying that the big day is either June 18 or 19.]

What about my old iPhone? Will it be hopelessly out of date?

Not necessarily. While you can't get a 3G upgrade for your original iPhone, you will be able to download firmware version 2.0 next month. Among other features, the firmware upgrade will include the new iPhone app store (chock-full of applications by third-party developers), plus support for Microsoft Exchange servers and a variety of security features aimed at the corporate market.

Frankly, while 3G data speeds are all well and good, I'm more excited to see what new third-party applications are in store. So don't put your old iPhone on eBay quite yet.