The New York Times says that Apple is working on a new handheld device, which could be called the "iPhone." The device would combine "elements of a cellphone and a Palm-like personal digital assistant." Rumors continue to spread as Apple files iPhone-related trademarks and patents.
Dec. 18, 2006: An iPhone is announced, but not by Apple. Cisco's Linksys division announces a new family of iPhone products for Internet telephony.
Jan. 9, 2007: Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the iPhone, ending close to a decade of speculation. The smartphone includes a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a digital camera and iPod features. It is priced at US$499 for a 4GB model and $599 model for an 8GB mode, with a two-year contract with Cingular (later AT&T).
Jan. 10, 2007: Cisco files a lawsuit against Apple in a U.S. court, accusing Apple of deliberately copying and using Cisco's registered iPhone trademark. The companies settle the dispute the following month.
June 29, 2007: The first iPhone goes on sale. Fans line up outside Apple and AT&T stores days in advance in the U.S. to be the first to get their hands on the device.
Sept. 5, 2007: Apple cuts the price of the 8GB iPhone by $200 to $399, and says it will sell the 4GB model while supplies last. Angry customers flood Apple with hundreds of letters demanding a refund. Jobs issues an open letter the next day apologizing to customers and says the company will issue a $100 credit toward purchases from Apple's retail or online stores.
March 5, 2008: Apple announces the iPhone 2.0 Software Beta, which includes the iPhone SDK (software developers kit), a set of APIs (application programming interfaces) to create iPhone apps. Apple also announces the App Store to make applications available to iPhone users.
June 9, 2008: Jobs announces the the iPhone 3G. The phone includes support for faster 3G (third-generation) broadband wireless networks. It goes on sale in 21 countries in July and breaks shipment records.
March 3, 2009: Apple announces the iPhone OS 3.0 beta with more than 100 new features, including cut and paste, voice memo recording, parental controls, peer-to-peer gaming and support for MMS (multimedia messaging service).
June 8, 2009: Apple announces the third-generation iPhone 3GS, which the company calls its "fastest, most powerful iPhone yet." The phone offers longer battery power, more storage, a faster processor and an improved graphics core. It also includes a number of long-awaited features such as a 3.2-megapixel auto-focus camera to shoot video. The phone ships on June 19.
April 8, 2010: Apple unveils the iPhone OS 4.0, with true multitasking. The company also announces a mobile advertising platform called iAd, which could allow developers to earn revenue by serving ads in applications for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
April 19, 2010: Enthusiast Web site Gizmodo previews the next-generation iPhone 4G after getting its hands on what its editors believe is a genuine prototype. Gizmodo bought the device for $5,000 after it was found at a bar not far from Apple headquarters. Apple does not comment on the device, but police documents later call the device an iPhone 4G prototype. The documents say that an Apple engineer Robert "Gray" Powell accidentally left his 4G iPhone in a bar, which came into the possession of Brian Hogan, a student. Gizmodo purchased the device from Hogan.
WWDC 2010 LIVE FEED: Apple iPhone HD keynoteMartha Wainwright announces UK dates
