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Apple Licenses 3G Technology

Apple recently agreed to license InterDigital's wireless technology. The deal is worth $56 million and under the initial terms set by the two companies will last for seven years. Is a 3G version of the iPhone in the works?

The patent being licensed by Apple covers both 2G and 3G technologies and also manages bandwidth and helps control power efficiency and roaming functions. With 3G in the technology mix, though, it's hard not to speculate that this could be the beginnings of a 3G version of the iPhone.

Until now, there has been little evidence that Apple intends to release a 3G version of the iPhone, though it has long been hoped for. Over the weekend, there were several sightings of T-Mobile advertisements in Germany for the iPhone, and included in the spec list is HSDPA 3G and storage capacity that is beefed up to 16GB. Whether or not these ads are PhotoShop trickery or genuine is unknown.

Either way, Apple would likely not license 3G technology if it didn't plan to use it...at some point.

When exactly that will be is anyone's guess.

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