Countdown to the 3G iPhone begins

Today is the day that the 3G iPhone arrives. Or should that be the iPhone 2.0? Or the iPhone nano? Or the iPhone mini? Actually, will there be a new iPhone at all?

In fact, while it may seem that we already know almost everything about the new iPhone, the truth is that no-one really knows anything. Indeed, when Steve Jobs takes to the stage at the Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC) around 10am PST (6pm GMT), his words will inevitably ruin some or all of the dozens of rumours currently doing the rounds about the fabled iPhone update.

So, what are these rumours and how likely or otherwise are they to be true? Click the jump for the Mobile Computer guide to the recent iPhone drones.

Two new iPhones

Our favourite rumour of the past few weeks has it that Jobs will announces not one but two new iPhones today. This rumour, r eported by iLounge, is based on a few dodgy photographs of some touchscreen membranes made by a firm called Host Optical, which claims it is supplying them to Apple for new iPhone models.

iPhoney or iFact?

Almost certainly not true. Any Apple supplier letting slip such details would be unlikely to remain an Apple supplier for long. 

The £100 iPhone

Macworld reckons that Apple will let its UK carrier, O2, flog the new iPhone on an 18-month contract that will allow it to get the headline asking price down to £100. As well, O2 may offer pay-as-you-go (PAYG) packages.

iPhoney or iFact?

We don’t have access to Macworld’s source but we can believe that Apple would allow more flexible pricing structures to develop this time around, if only to aid upgraders from the old iPhone. 

New iPhone will have curved back

So, the new iPhone will have... a curvaceous rear end. This bit of gossip stemmed from community site iPhoneclub.nl, which was sent some photos supposedly showing the new iPhone’s design. Great. Next please.

iPhoney or iFact?

Oh, probably iFact but even if it’s iPhoney, do you care?

New iPhone will have non-recessed headphone jack

The headphone socket on the updated iPhone will not be recessed, meaning you’ll be able to plug in any old pair of headphones. Or so suggests Engadget’s Joshua Topolsky, based on a tiny photograph of a silicone-skin case that may or may not be real for a handset that does not yet exist.

iPhoney or iFact?

At the time, we considered this one iPhoney and have had no reason to change our minds since then. The only possible conclusion anyone could reach about the earphone socket from this photograph is that it’s earphone-socket-shaped. 

Apple iPhone to launch on 9th June

The world and its disgustingly-dated pocket web device expects Steve Jobs to announce the new iPhone during his keynote speech today at the WWDC.

iPhoney or iFact?

Well, if this one isn’t true then we can all just pack up and go home. But since we didn’t go in the first place, it won’t bother us.

Finally, Wired has a gallery of fake iPhone 2.0 images to whet your appetite for the real thing later today.