iPhone Model 3,2 Nearing Mass Production, iPhone 5 Reaches EVT Stage - Report

Citing a "solid Apple source," Boy Genius Report claims that an iPhone model 3,2 has reached the field test phase, while the fifth major iteration of the handset (iPhone 5) has allegedly advanced to the Engineering Verification Test (EVT) stage.

The site claims to have been told that iPhone model 3,2 just hit the ‘AP’ testing stage. The device is believed to support the CDMA standard (likely on Verizon’s network), yet BGR's source also notes that iPhone model 3,2 will contain a SIM card slot, which is used only by GSM devices in general.

This change also implies altering the phone’s design.

Still, the report notes that the ‘AP’ testing stage is the last one in the development cycle before the product’s retail release - “final hardware, almost final software."

Apple is known to change the first number in its device identifiers to indicate major revisions. The second number (following the comma) is used to refer to minor updates.

If confirmed, this rumor should materialize in a revised iPhone 4, perhaps boasting an improved antenna, BGR speculates.

As for the next-generation iPhone 5, details are even more scarce. The source in question reportedly indicated that the handset is currently in “EVT” stage in the development cycle.

The “EVT” stage precedes the engineering verification test phase referred to as “DVT”.

Rumors of an updated iPhone 4 have been floating around for a while now, with Verizon being the main candidate to support it, should talk of the device being equipped with CDMA chips from Qualcomm prove accurate.

During the past few months, several analysts decided to become vocal on the matter, expressing their beliefs that a revision to the iPhone 4 was likely to arrive sooner, rather than later.

Some of these allegedly well informed individuals claimed that Apple was actually rushing development to ship the updated handsets before Christmas.

Others still believe Q1 2011 is the timeframe Apple has picked to make the announcement.

In the end, no one knows anything for sure.

What we do know is that Apple will unveil some brand-new Mac products tomorrow. So, until we get some solid confirmation that Cupertino is ready to spit out new iPhones, let’s just go “Back to the Mac”.