Apple May be Prepping Phone-less iPhone

Evidence is growing that Apple will soon release a next-generation video iPod that will have a great deal in common with the new iPhone.

CEO Steve Jobs hinted to Apple employees last month that iPods that run a stripped-down version of Mac OS X -- as the iPhone does -- are in development

In addition, DigiTimes is reporting that this device could be available as early as next month, although this has not been confirmed by Apple.

What Will It Offer?

It's obvious that the next-generation video iPod won't have phone functionality, but what features it will include are a matter of speculation.

Some people have asked for a device that would be just like the iPhone, but without the phone. This model could still be able to access the Web and email with a Wi-Fi connection.

Another possibility is that this upcoming video iPod will look and act a great deal the current one, except that it will have an on-screen control wheel, not a physical one. This device would probably not not have the Internet-access capabilities of the iPhone.

A third option is a device that will basically be a iPhone but with no wireless functionality at all, which means no web browser or email. It would, however, be able to show video, display images, and, of course, play music.

Exactly what Apple's plans are remain to be seen.

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Via AppleInsider