Analyst: Helio could launch Apple handset soon

According a telecom analyst at research firm Visiongain, the SK-EarthLink MVNO Helio could launch an Apple-branded mobile handset to coincide with the launch of its services this spring. While any talk about an Apple-branded mobile phone is groan-worthy, Visiongain's Pam Duffey may be onto something. "There exists a relationship between Apple and Helio management that goes back to the ROKR iTunes phone, and Helio has declared a target audience identical to iPod's existing market," she said. Nearly everyone in the MVNO race is looking to capture the iPod's market, and I doubt either company will bring up the ROKR handset if this rumor proves true.

Further speculation and on the iPhone front includes a "delay" in iPhone roll outs because of some "significant" technical problems. So says a report from ThinkSecret.com. The report claims that the device was set to launch in the third quarter of this year, "but these issues have delayed any roll-out indefinitely." Well, I guess that's the end of that.

For more information on the elusive iPhone:
- take a look at this article from RCRWireless.com
- check out this article from ThinkSecret.com