Recently uncovered information in Apple’s iPhone 2.x firmware reveals evidence of a next generation iPhone labeled “iPhone 2,1.” Whether this refers to Apple’s next iPhone release or an iPhone model to be released sometime in the future remains uncertain.
Originally discovered by MacRumors, the different model numbers (1,1 – 1,2 – 2,1) are set in place to differentiate the specific hardware models. So for example, the first generation iPhone was given the model number “iPhone 1,1,” and the iPhone 3G carries the designation of “iPhone 1,2.” What is interesting here is that both versions of the iPod touch have designated model numbers as well, yet the second generation carries the “iPod 2,1″ model number. The new internals and upgraded hardware introduced a speaker, volume controls, mic support and a beefed up processor.
While MacRumors notes that the model number has been revealed in the USBDeviceConfiguration.plist in an unencrypted firmware, they note that at least one developer has found evidence of a few dozen “iPhone 2,1″ models in action through PinchMedia’s ad serving reports. These reports show the first usage of the device in early October 2008 and picking up by mid-December 2008. They also report that these “iPhone 2,1″ devices are almost exclusively located in the San Francisco Bay Area (around where Apple is centralized) and utilize both common AT&T and WiFi connections.
While the iPhone 3G did add major new features namely 3G, GPS and more RAM, it did not make use of an entirely new new processor or chipset. Apple’s model number distinctions seem to follow the same structure. As with software, major revisions and upgrades require entire (dot) number jumps, say from 1.0 to 2.0, instead of 1.0 to 1.2 with say, a minor revision or enhancement.
So it would appear that a next generation iPhone will harbor primarily under-the-hood upgrades as rumors point to Multi-Core CPUs and possibly Multi-Core GPU support from Imagination Technologies. The number change would more than likely be indicative of a major renovation to the internal architecture of the device, not so much the exterior, which there has been no information about. This could include their own ARM processor cores, which Apple could use to further set themselves apart from the rest of the “smartphone” market.
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