Apple Rumors: The Next iPhone

Every year since the original iPhone came out, the rumor mill has run rampant about what each version of the phone would feature. Unlike Android, Apple is very closed off when it comes to what their new releases of products will feature. When it comes down to it, no one outside of Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California knows what the phone will truly feature. That's what makes this time of year so fun! So here is my best guess as to what some of the features will be on the next version of the iPhone.

When Can I Get It? 
Apple typically has released their new iPhone models between June and October. Most of the early models came out in June, while the latest model, the iPhone 4S, was released in October. In addition to that, recent reports that Qualcomm, is having some supply shortages, alludes to an October release as well. The microchip that Qualcomm is developing is reportedly supposed to enable the next iPhone to have 4G LTE capabilities. This leads me to...

Finally some 4G? 
As I just stated, it's being reported that one reason the release date is being pushed back because Qualcomm is experiencing some shortages in materials needed for a processor that would allow for 4G LTE connectivity. This has long been a sticking point for many with regards to the iPhone. To date, the iPhone has not been able to offer 4G connectivity, so upgrading to that would be huge for Apple (although also a bit behind the curve, as Android offered 4G over a year ago). On April 19, Reuters reported that Qualcomm wouldn't be able to meet the demand due to manufacturing restraints the would increase company operating costs. In addition, the new iPad offers 4G connectivity. It would only make sense for the next version of the iPhone to also offer that same connectivity.

Will the Screen Be Bigger?
Another sticking point for iPhone enthusiasts is the size of the actual screen. To date, iPhone has stuck with a 3.5 inch screen, while other (Android) phones have been released with screens as large as 5.3 inches (the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note). That's almost two inches bigger! In this day and age where users are able to stream movies to their mobile phones, and Youtube video watching is a popular past-time, mobile phones definitely benefit from not only the size of the display but the clarity. There are also some rumors of a redesign to the chassis of the phone as well, moving towards a more rounded back design, similar to the iPad. If the iPhone was to move to an edge to edge design with the screen, I'm sure many of it's users would be happy, and they might even be able to convert a few more Android users to iPhones.

Rumors will continue to run at a dizzying pace until the next version of the iPhone is released, but we can all speculate right? I think that in order to stay current with the competition, Apple MUST have 4G capabilities, at least offer a larger screen size, and possibly offer more RAM memory/a faster processor (not that the processor in the 4S is slow!). If Apple really wants to captivate a new audience, they'll redesign the phone. This is likely to gain even more interest from non-iPhone users.