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AT&T CFO Rick Lindner has let slip a semi-confirmation regarding the arrival of the much anticipated next-generation iPhone.  Widely believed to be announced during Steve Job’s keynote address at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 9th, the next iPhone is expected to run on the AT&T’s recently upgraded 3G network.  Lindner’s comments regarding the iPhone indicate that pricing has not yet been determined, which leaves the door open to continued rumors of a subsidized version of the device:

“There’s not been a product announcement. There hasn’t been any pricing decision made. That’s yet to come,“ he [Lindner] said.

Other popular smartphone devices, including RIM’s Blackberry devices and the Motorola Q are offered on all major networks at reduced prices, in exchange for a long term contract commitment.  Rather than profiting from the device sale, the carrier added packages or services to the plan, including data access and MMS messaging, to recoup the cost of the handset.  At its introduction, the iPhone bucked this convention by offering a full price handset and cheaper, unlimited data packages, a condition set by Apple.

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Although the date has been speculated for a while, Gizmodo is claiming that they have confirmed the launch of the 3G iPhone during the WWDC Keynote on June 9. This latest development comes from “sources close to the 3G iPhone launch” and puts the 3G enabled iPhone with worldwide availability without any delay, meaning that you will be able to plunk down your hard earned money without any further waiting.

So now, as this has not been confirmed by Apple we have to remember that it just may well still change, or its always possible that it is entirely untrue to begin with. The real question here is not when it will be released, but whether or not current iPhone users will feel the need to run out and upgrade. It sounds nice to me, but I am not sure if the 3G support alone would be enough to win me over.

Via [Gizmodo]

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