Apple is believed to have cut a deal with Qualcomm and other chip vendors for the supply of a new generation of 3G processor technology for their iPhone which is expected to be launched for the first time in Australia on the Telstra Next G network which is credited as being the fastest in the world.

Currently running at 7.2Mb per second it is tipped that Telstra will time the release of their Next G network upgrade with the release of the Apple iPhone. Currently Telstra are running extensive tests in an effort to take their network to over 32Mb per second however insiders say that recent tests have failed to deliver the quality needed to roll out the network nationally.

Already divisions of Telstra are starting to develop applications to run on the new 3G phone. Among those divisions are Sensis which operate the Telstra White and Yellow pages divisions.

Apple insiders say that the Company is planning to launch a 3G version of iPhone in the second quarter and produce as many as 8 million in the third quarter, according to Bank of America analyst Scott Craig. “Our latest channel checks point to a significant production build of a 3G iPhone beginning in the month of June after an initial small build in May, “said Craig.

Craig now expects production volume to be much higher than his previous estimates. He said Apple plans to build more than 3 million high-speed iPhone in May, followed by more than 8 million in the third quarter of the year.
Craig had previously estimated 8 million iPhone units for the whole of this year.