According to Fox News host and tech blogger Clayton Morris, Apple will show off the next version of the iPhone OS at their press event next Wednesday, January 27. 

The event, which was announced yesterday, is almost universally expected to be the launch of Apple’s long-awaited tablet, though this has not yet been officially confirmed by the company.

Morris reports that a source inside Apple told him on Monday that “the event would likely focus on three projects: The tablet device, iPhone 4, and a new round of iLife 2010 software.”

Neither we nor Morris expect the 4th Generation iPhone to be announced at the event, though this remains a possibility.  iPhone OS updates have been nil over the last several months, reportedly because Apple’s team has been hard at work on software for the upcoming tablet.  There is also speculation that, if true, the announcement of the next version of the iPhone OS alongside the unveiling of the Apple tablet makes it a lock that the tablet device will run an OS much closer to that of the iPhone than the full OS that runs on its laptops and desktops.

Including of the next version of iLife with the announcement of iPhone OS 4.0 and the tablet might indicate that a tablet-and-iPhone-friendly version of the software suite will be made available for the two devices.  Touch-ready ports of iPhoto, iMovie, iWeb, etc., would seem natural additions for Apple’s touch devices.

According to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, Apple’s next iPhone could debut on wireless networks other than AT&T’s next year.  In the report (which was sent to clients today), Mr. Munster pegs the summer of 2010 as the possible end to AT&T’s exclusive iPhone carrier status in the U.S:

“We believe Apple is slowly transitioning each country … to a multi-carrier model. In other words, we expect Apple to add new iPhone carriers in the U.S. within the next year (likely with a new product launch next summer) … In France, the company now enjoys dramatically higher market share (in the 40% range vs. about 15% in ROW) than in countries with exclusive carrier agreements (such as AT&T in the U.S. where the iPhone has market share in the mid-teens).”

It has always been known that the iPhone would be available from other wireless carriers in the States sooner or later, but with complaints concerning AT&T’s service (or lack thereof) increasing with each passing months, Apple and perspective iPhone owners are surely looking forward to other service providers getting in on the iPhone game. 

Many have speculated that Verizon Wireless would be the most likely candidate in the U.S. to first add iPhone to its product line when AT&T’s exclusivity agreement ends.  The carrier is reportedly hurrying to deploy its 4G wireless data network in 30 markets by the end of next year, with projected nationwide 4G service to be completed by the end of 2013.

Having multiple carriers offer the iPhone here in the U.S. is a very good thing for consumers.  In addition to the obvious benefit of customers being able to get the iPhone from more than one carrier, competition among carriers will force service innovation, plan price competition and improving data options.

Source: Fortune Brainstorm Tech