Although as of this point the only real confirmation of a second generation, 3G iPhone coming in 2008 is from AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, news today indicates that release date may already be pushed back. The push back, should it be a reality, is seemingly a result of Apple's desire to keep sales of the iPhone robust during this holiday shopping season - fearing that a looming release of a newer, better iPhone might scare off potential customers.

The next generation iPhone release date may be pushed back anywhere from two to six months. According to statements from Mehdi Hosseini, an analyst from Friedman Billings Ramsey & Company, "recent checks" have indicated that what was believed to be a March or April release for the new, 3G iPhone could now be pushed back as far as late summer.

Does this mean that you should resume your off put plans to buy an iPhone for yourself for Christmas this year? Well, as before, that's up to you. Chances are there won't be a second gen iPhone release date that anyone considers concrete until it comes from Apple itself, and that's certainly not going to come until sometime in 2008. So, if you haven't gotten your hands on an iPhone and are itching to - go buy one. If you'd rather hedge your bets to avoid buyer's remorse in 2008, that's an option as well. Just don't expect firm answers anytime soon.

[via MacNN]

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