According to an industry analyst Apple may be on the verge of announcing a 3G compatible iPhone, possibly before the weekend arrives. That would be welcome news to our European cousins that have been wanting an iPhone of their own that isn’t unlocked and that is covered by a warranty.

Analyst Will Strauss of Forward Concepts made the statement based on circumstantial but compelling evidence including a deal brokered last week between Interdigital and Apple. The terms of the seven-year deal allows Apple to use Interdigital’s IP for iPhones and any future Apple mobile phone products.

What is more speculative is whether Apple’s European iPhones will include Wideband-CDMA technology. That would allow the 3G iPhones to have the capability of handling the higher speed HSDPA technology. Also up for grabs is the exclusive rights to be the network provider of the iPhone’s network through the various European countries. The current front runner for France is Orange while T-Mobile seems to be the odds-on favorite to get the German market.

via EE Times