MMS, data tethering rumored for iPhone 3.0 update

Apple announced it will host a special media event March 17 to offer a sneak preview of its iPhone 3.0 next-generation mobile operating system. Apple is not expected to unveil a new version of the iPhone device, but according to the Boy Genius Report, the event likely will herald the announcement of MMS support and data tethering via Bluetooth and USB. Ralph de la Vega, CEO of Apple's U.S. operator partner AT&T, said in November 2008 that an official iPhone tethering option would be announced "soon."

There is also speculation that iPhone 3.0 will include the "push" functionality Apple promised at its Worldwide Developer Conference in June 2008. At that time, Apple senior vice president of iPhone software Scott Forstall told developers that a unified push notification service--alerting iPhone users running one application when fresh data was available for another application not in use--would be completed by September, but subsequent updates have not included the promised workaround. The push service became necessary when Apple declined to include background applications in the iPhone SDK--many developers cited their concerns about such a limitation, arguing it could restrict the usefulness of applications like instant messaging.

For more on the iPhone 3.0 rumors:
- read this Boy Genius Report article

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