Revving Up the Rumor Mill for the Next iPhone

The one thing that we do know is that the next version of the iPhone will have fast AT&T's (NYSE: T) 3G wireless networking, which delivers near broadband connectivity, instead of the current and pokey EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) network . And we know, from Steve Jobs himself, that the next version of the iPhone will have exchange e-mail capabilities, thus opening the iPhone up to corporate and business users whose work e-mail runs on the Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Exchange platform.

The App Invasion

Also coming this summer are hundreds, if not thousands, of downloadable programs and games that will be sold through downloads on the iTunes store, just as ringtones currently are. The first iPhone was pretty much a closed box, with no easy way to get extra programs. But in January, Apple released a software development kit to independent programmers, allowing them to make programs just for the iPhone.

But the Apple rumor sites are in hyperdrive over even more new features for the iPhone's next version.

Whispering Campaign

Recently, there were a spate of stories about Apple meeting with a company called "Immersion Corp." to bring its haptic tactile feedback features to the new iPhone. Haptic technology produces a vibration, or a bump, when a user pushes a key. Immersion already has a deal to provide it for the coming Tube 5800 from Nokia (NYSE: NOK) , which will mimic many iPhone features. Tactile feedback already is a popular feature on the Voyager, a touchscreen iPhone rival offered by Verizon .

The iPhone Tattler blog carried a story over the weekend saying Apple has developed a new application for the iPhone called "iControl" that will make it a universal remote that connects wirelessly to local iTunes libraries on computers and controls videos, podcasts, music and even supports shuffle playback.

The Engadget and iPod Observer blogs claim the shiny aluminum case will be replaced by a glossy black plastic case. MacRumors claims that's shaky information and a photo circulating of a black iPhone was really just a picture of a protection case and not a leaked prototype. Engadget insists its inside Apple sources claim the black case is a done deal.

Future Features

Other sites like IntoMobile and Apple Insider are speculating the new iPhones will come with GPS (global positioning system) support built in. This would allow things like live location information, such as speed and time, to be displayed on the iPhone, which, when implemented with the Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Maps feature already on the iPhone, could make directions even easier.

Apple is keeping silent on all these rumors. But I bet they're smiling. The hype is building so fast for the summer's new iPhone -- available perhaps in late June, more likely July -- that Apple doesn't even need to run a pre-marketing campaign.