A couple of days ago, it appeared Apple would launch the highly-anticipated iPhone 2.0 firmware update early in July, about the same time AT&T and many other carriers around the world roll out the new 3G iPhone. A curious statement on Apple's Australian iPod touch page indicated the major software update would arrive sooner.

It said, "Shop for hundreds of applications made for iPod touch. Available June 27." Along with the text, there was a line up of icons - one each for three different applications and another for the iPhone/iPod touch App Store. The application store and availability of official third-party software is one of the major enhancements set to come about through the iPhone 2.0 firmware.

Unfortunately, the assertion of a July 27 launch's since been removed from the site.

So, we're left wondering whether it was an out and out mistake3and iPhone 2.0 will arrive in July as previously thought3or it was accurate, but someone jumped the gun and posted the information to soon.

Whatever the case may be, we'll find out soon enough, in only a couple of weeks.

Also, with the current iPhone model the iTunes store on the device only works over Wi-Fi and not over AT&T's bandwidth-constricted EDGE network. Even though the operator's 3G network delivers more than enough bandwidth to allow for fast song downloads, it doesn't appear this long sort-after capability will be made available to the new iPhone either.

Rumor has it, the fault isn't Apple's, however, but rather that of greedy record labels who want Apple to charge more for over-the-air mobile downloads.

Why should it matter to the labels if a track is bought and delivered to an iPhone through side-loading Wi-Fi, or over a cellular network? It shouldn't. Either way, Apple and the labels both benefit from the selling of more songs, right?

Another possible reason for the lack of over-the-air song downloads is Apple's refusal to give into AT&T's request for a piece of the iTunes sales pie.

[via engadget]