With the announcement that Apple are to stage an event on Tuesday 17th March to showcase the upcoming version 3.0 of the iPhone OS, everyone is left wondering if this means a new iPhone is also on the way.

It happened last year..

This time last year Apple did a similar thing. They held an iPhone OS 2.0 software roadmap event on the 6th of March. During this event they unveiled the new OS to the public, showcasing some of it’s more impressive features. The update was dated for a June 2008 release. Around the corner was Apple’s next big event, WWDC 2008, here they officially announced the iPhone 3G, and told us it would come with OS 2.0 installed.

Repeat performance?

This year the OS 3.0 event is taking place slightly later in the month, but the fact it is taking place at a similar time is interesting. Is this going to be a yearly focus? I certainly hope so. Website iPhoneFootprint have worked out possible dates for this years WWDC based on bookings taken by the Moscone Centre. The two possibilities are May 16th-22nd and June 6th-12th. The latter of which seems to be the more likely choice. So this keeps everything in a similar time frame to last years goings on, but is there any evidence yet of a new iPhone?

CSI Cupertino..

So all we really have to go on is dates. What other evidence has cropped up? Well, earlier this year we were treated to some ‘leaked’ pictures of a new iPhone casing, supposedly showcasing a new metal back, akin to the iPod Classics. Then just a few days ago we heard news of O2 UK planning on cutting the iPhone prices in May. When you put all the circumstantial evidence together, it sure does seem like a new iPhone is imminent.