Apple’s Phil Schiller Calls White iPhone 'a Beauty', Available This Spring

Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing has confirmed via Twitter that a white iPhone is shipping this spring, though he failed to confirm whether this is the controversial iPhone 4, or a new iPhone altogether.

Considering that Apple never shoots itself in the foot (at least not on purpose) when it comes to all-new products, we can say with confidence that Schiller’s comments were in regards to the much-delayed white iPhone 4.

In response to a question regarding availability of the device, Schiller wrote on Twitter:

"The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!)."

Apple’s white iPhone 4, as avid Softpedia readers should know, has been delayed three times since its debut in the summer of 2010.

Whereas the black iPhone 4 sold like hot cake, Apple kept having trouble with the white coating, specifically near the LED flash and camera lens where light would reportedly leak out.

Apple recently closed a deal with a Japanese firm that was reportedly able to craft a more reliable paint for the glass panels, allowing it to ship the device in accordance with its self-imposed timeframe - spring 2011.

There has been a lot of concern that Apple would give up on the white iPhone 4 to focus on the fifth-generation handset, which should arrive in white from day one, just like the iPad 2.

Apple is closing in on its refresh cycle for the iPhone, leaving just a month or two between the release of the white iPhone 4 and the next-generation iPhone 5.

It will be interesting to see how many more iPhone 4 units Apple will sell, after launching the white version into the wild.

There is clearly some demand for the Apple smartphone but those who craved for one undoubtedly went for something else in the meanwhile, be it the black iPhone 4.