Link?
Yes it's inevitable that some of the iPhone technology will trickle down to the iPod, but NO WAY is Steve stealing the iPhone's thunder (and pissing off a lot of customers and partners in the process) by releasing a full-fledged touch-screen iPod anytime soon. At most, you'll get the touch screen and cover flow, but in no way will it have wireless built in or offer anywhere near the software that the iPhone does.
Face it: if you want Safari, email, google maps, and YouTube in the palm of your hand, you're gonna have to fork over for the iPhone. Or wait 2-3 years.