Now that we know Apple will be announcing something next week on October 4th, the speculation can continue as to what that will be. And here’s one for today.

Mac Rumors reports that a China Unicom executive apparently confirmed during a presentation at this week’s Macworld Asia that the “iPhone 5″ set to be announced next week will support HSPA+, which is sometimes called “4G.” This technology  offers a maximum theoretical data speed of 21 Mbps.

They’ve even got a photo of a slide presented during the talk that seems to support the assertion. According to the report, research vice president of China Unicom, Huan Wenliang, said the iPhone 5 “will support W-CDMA based high-speed data transfer standard HSPA Evolution” (aka HSPA+) during a keynote speech at the event.

T-Mobile and AT&T both offer 21Mbps HSPA+ in the United States and market the networks as “4G,” although it really should be thought of as more “3.5G” if anything, based on the speed. Apple is reportedly testing a true 4G LTE iPhone but we probably won’t see that being announced next week.

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As of today Apple began selling unlocked iPhone 4 handsets in the U.S. only. The smartphone is now available in 16GB for $649 or 32GB for $749, and both models come in black or white.

This marks a change in Apple policy dating back to the first iPhone where the device was only available for AT&T GSM users. Now, it can be used with pretty much any GSM carrier, as long as modifications can be made for those who don’t yet use the micro-SIM card.

Personally, even though the price of the iPhone is high in its unlocked state, I would probably go this way to avoid a long-term contract with any one carrier. Also, this allows people to get their hands on the iPhone 4 now and then use the subsidy pricing to pick up an iPhone 5 once they launch later this year.

Sure, the price is probably too high for many buyers but to some this represents the best scenario when it comes to dealing with carrier monopolies. I, for one, think Apple should have done this a long time ago.

As expected, Apple late yesterday released the latest version of its operating system for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, collectively known as iOS. This update brings the version of iOS to 4.3.

Important additions with this update include Apple’s new Personal Hotspot feature, which is now available on GSM versions of the iPhone 4. Previously, it had only been available to customers using Verizon’s CDMA iPhone. In addition, now available in iOS is AirPlay support for third-party apps.

This update is compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad, Apple TV and the third and fourth-generation iPod touch models. For full details on the update, head over to Apple’s website. If you do update, let us know how it goes in the comments.

As of yet, this update isn’t available for the Verizon iPhone 4. However, we expect that to drop in the next few days. At least we hope so or a few members of the staff are going to be a little cranky.

In a recent support article, Apple detailed the differences between the GSM and CDMA iPhone when it comes to voice calling and other associated features. Among other things revealed that may be disturbing to Verizon iPhone users, the document confirms the Verizon iPhone is not capable of handling a conference call with more than two people.

In addition, the CDMA iPhone is unable to put calls on hold due to the way the network works. In the less negative category, the Verizon iPhone can use a manual method to toggle call forwarding, call waiting and caller ID instead of using the settings found in iOS itself.

If you’ve ever used a CDMA device,  you’re probably already familiar with these features and/or limitations. For potential AT&T switchers, these differences may or may not be any kind of deal breaker. Still, more info is always good when making decisions and it’s nice that Apple took the time to do this.

I don’t know about you but I never get tired of Verizon iPhone rumors. Maybe because I wish for it to happen almost more than anything. Don’t get me wrong, I do like my Android powered HTC Incredible. I just miss the iPhone but I won’t go back to it as long as it’s only on AT&T’s network.

So, if I could have something that combines the amazingness of the iPhone with the awesomeness of the Verizon network, I would be a happy person and could then go about my life in blissful contentment . . . until then next version comes out of course.

The rumor this week is about Apple’s search for engineers to work on some new projects. The info, dug up by the gang at Fortune, is about a job for a full-time Cellular Systems Performance Engineers who will deal with protocol issues and field test hardware. They are also looking for people with experience in GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and more to the point, CDMA technologies.

In case you don’t know that last one, CDMA, is the kind of network Verizon uses. That bit of info is made all the more significant by the fact that no currently shipping hardware from Apple — including the iPhone 4 — uses that technology. So, just another piece of the puzzle that when finished will hopefully reveal a shiny new iPhone for Verizon users.

I’d wait in line for that if. . . and I bet some of you would too.

What would a week be without yet another “confirmation” of the iPhone’s long rumored appearance on Verizon? A boring week we say! So, to make sure we get one in for this week, here’s the latest from the folks at Fortune Magazine.

In a profile on Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, the magazine has to, of course, talk about the iPhone. Noting Seidenberg’s success in making Verizon the number one wireless carrier in the U.S, Fortune notes that “every tech company” — including Apple — “must find a way to partner with it [Verizon].”

However, that’s not the really juicy part. Nor is it the part that will cause even more speculation and machinations among Apple loving and AT&T hating fans. This is the part: “Fortune has confirmed that a Verizon iPhone will be released in early 2011.”

With all the other evidence mounting that we will actually see a Verizon iPhone combined with this new evidence, it must be a forgone conclusion, right? Sadly, with a company like Apple, you can’t really count on anything except absolute secrecy until they are ready to make the announcement. They love to control the message.

Of course, there’s always the possibility some hapless employee will leave one in a bar somewhere. Hey, it could happen.

Verizon Wireless stores will begin selling the iPad on October 28 in a move that marks the first time the telecom giant is partnering with Apple — and probably not the last.

Verizon’s 2,000 retail stores will begin carrying the Wi-Fi model of Apple’s iPad bundled with a MiFi wireless modem to gain 3-G access. The data will cost you $20/month for 1GB of data usage. Verizon’s network is based on CDMA technology, which is not compatible with the current iPad hardware, hence the need for a separate standalone modem.

Verizon’s MiFi + iPad bundles will be priced the same as an iPad with built-in 3G connectivity for AT&T’s networks. The 16-GB iPad + MiFI model will cost $630, for example, the same as the 16-GB 3G iPad, $730 for the 32 GB and $830 for the 64GB model.

Check out the full press release about this new development after the jump.

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If you believe the folks at The Wall Street Journal, AT&T’s monopoly on the iPhone will finally be coming to an end this June when Apple will release a CDMA version of the iPhone which will be available on Verizon. According to people “briefed on the matter” a special CDMA version of the iPhone will be made starting this September by Pegatron Technology Corp., a subsidiary of ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

To which company will this CDMA device be headed? Verizon Wireless. Even though I bash AT&T for their network (and I’m not alone here for sure) and the fact that calls continuously seem to drop, I can actualy tell they’ve made a few strides in improving their network, at least in the Los Angeles area.

Still, in LA at least, Verizon is usually the clear winner when it comes to network availability and the ability to make a call and stay on that call without dropping. So, if their really is an iPhone coming to Verizon, I may just have to pick one up. That or I may just give up the iPhone all together and go for a Google Nexus One when it comes to Verizon. The next few months should be interesting indeed.

Today, French telecom giant Nokia filed suit in U.S. District Court against Apple alleging copyright infringement on 10 of its technology patents. The company says the patents “relate to technologies fundamental to making devices,” that are compatible with GSM, UMTS, or 3G WCDMA, and wireless LAN technologies.

The claims involve wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption technologies. Nokia says Apple has been in violation of these patents since the iPhone launched in 2007. Additionally, Nokia says it has invested more than $60 Billion in research and development, but says Apple has not agreed to appropriate licensing terms for these technologies.

Nokia, which recently posted a loss of $836 Million, parhaps sees Apple as a worthy target, especially in light of Apple’s recently reported 7% increase in iPhone sales. I’m not saying that Nokia is suing Apple simply for economic reasons, but seeing as one company is going down while another is going up, the timing sure is interesting.

No matter what the relative merits of Nokia’s suit are, sit back and settle in for many long years of litigation. Apple is not a company that goes quietly and if they expect to get a dime out of Cupertino, Nokia had better be prepared to fight.