What is interesting though is why are there 16 new prototypes handed around in mid July?
Assuming Apple won't release another iPhone until June 2010 it seems strange to have that many new prototypes so soon. No?
- Could this mean that it is likely we will see another iPhone model this year?
- Or a new iPhone by next January?
There are two possibilities.
First we don't know if the prototype is for the USA/Europe market. It could be a prototype for the Chinese market, for example.
Secondly, it could be a prototype for the release next June in the USA/Europe market. Some people truely believe that Apple seen what Palm showed in January and reacted with what Apple showed in June.
The whole concept-to-market path is a much longer road then most people believe. As for why so many of a prototype...the 16 could be a total of several prototypes with variations in specs. Or they could need that many to do a rainbow of tests; battery life, environmental conditions, cartoning and shipping impact, FCC compliance, etc.