I think what your looking for is... Intel is going to stop production of the current licensed ARM CPU, they are making the new one that's 1.0ghz-2.0ghz (I think that's the numbers), Been all over the place lately.
More ARM CPU facts and stuff here... Note the 6th and 7th generation versions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture
Intel is not the only supplier to Apple for ARM cpu's. They still work with Broadcom and Freescale as well. But in the case I was speaking 1/3rd is stopping production of the current licensed technology to build the newer model. So that would estimate the new strongarm cpu MAY be ready for the iphone sooner than later. Intel's spending would presume sooner at this point but without solid 2nd/3rd qtr estimates I can't say for 100% sure. I was pretty sure 2009 was the projected date but Bloomsburg reported Summer 2008 it would be available.
Lets say Intel's SA is ready as of July. And Apple releases two iPhone levels coming this May/June. Consumer and Pro. Let's take the current model, call it Pro, and take this concept and call it Consumer (for now let's just say). Consumer versions could carry on with ARM based cpu's from BC and FC without change, thus reducing their price in the 8/16gb. Pro models with the enterprise consumers in mind would need a bit more punch to run certain applications so Intel could supply the SA model to Apple who would then release a pro version of the iPhone at 32gb. Seeing as Apple's recent push into the business class is in fact carrying momentum very rapidly a Pro version of the iphone is likely (how much is anyone's guess) but most are sure a lower priced thus lower spec'd iPhone is coming. Especially if Gartner is right about 45mil phones in 2009 if not by 2008.
To reach these numbers you would need a slightly larger product line. Starting at $199 (possible free if subsidized) for an 8Gb all plastic iphone mini (just saying to coincide with the iPod lineup). At $249 is a 16gb version. Then in the Pro-Sumer side we have the updated 3G/GPS/Video conferencing monster. Now to do two-way video we need a faster cpu to render everything so Intel's SA would step in nicely and start the pricing at $349 for an 8gb, then up from there as more memory is needed.
Being that we are going to be holding databases, video, and other such applications on these phones. A medical database worth a lick, not the current proposed one, would consume about 5gb of space alone (at least it does in Filemaker).
Taking into account the recent news I've been watching from other suppliers it would seem dual models COULD be likely. But Intel's pushing their new SA chip and ceasing production of the current ARM. So that puts one supplier out on current CPU's.
Done rambling... Nobody really knows expect those at Apple and even then... Time will tell. It's like putting together a puzzle and not know what it's supposed to look like. Just read into everything and try to make the best possible guess from the data gathered.
