The blogs have been noticing the switch in Apple’s references to their latest smartphone. Instead of the “iPhone 3G S” they used during launch, the nomenclature has recently been changing to “iPhone 3GS”. It’s a small change, but somewhat significant. Why would Apple make a major change to the naming of a product after it’s launch? My theory is this: Google.

Search engines work by using search terms. And by using Google to search without a space is a much more specific search and brings up more accurate references to the proper phone. Search for “3G S” and the results will include references to both the old version and the new version. The fact that Apple’s site is slowly reverting to the search friendly term on their own website seems to indicate a recent change has happened regarding the branding.

The better thing to do would have been to create a new name entirely, dropping the 3G or adding a word to it. But we’re stuck with it now. Or at least until next July when iPhone 4.0 comes out.

One of my favorite mobile blogs, Boy Genius Reports, just found out the non-contract price of the new iPhone 3G S.

• $799 32gb
• $699 16gb

Those of you that committed to 3 year contracts for the iPhone 3G better save your pennies.

Let’s get this out of the way first, it’s available on June 19th at Rogers. Unfortunately Rogers has not updated their website with any description and they did not lower the price of the old 3G to $99 like AT&T did.

Although the outside isn’t much different, inside there are many changes both in hardware and software. A better processor and memory are suspected, but not confirmed by Apple at the WWDC today. Instead they focused on showing off the new functionality of the iPhone and iPhone OS including:

• Faster applications (new CPU and memory?)
• Records video
• 3MP camera with autofocus, autoexposure and white balance control
• Voice Control (including voice dialing)
• Compass
• Cut, Copy & Paste
• MMS
• Search
• Tethering
• Voice Recorder
• Nike+

See the guided tour at the Apple website for a very lengthy tour of the new phone.

Skype launched today on the iPhone with great fanfare…at least it did south of the border. You cannot get the free Skype app from Canadian iTunes. A report on CBC cited patent restrictions, however you can get Skype on the PC in Canada as well as for Windows Mobile handsets.

There’s some rumors going around on the blogs about the details of the iPhone OS version 3.0 that will be announced on the 17th. Here’s what Boy Genius Reports lists:

• MMS
• Tethering via Bluetooth and USB

Rogers is offering a “limited time promotional price offer” for people buying the iPhone or other smartphones. They are offering a $30/month 6gb data plan.

Effective July 11, and as a limited time promotional offer for customers who activate by August 31 on a three year contract, a data-only offering of 6GB of data for $30 per month is being made available that can be added to any in-market voice plan

What’s more is that they are allowing iPhone purchasers to use Rogers plans that are not the crappy iPhone plan.

New Canadian iPhone 3G customers will also have the choice to select from Rogers Wireless’ existing voice and smartphone data plans and/or additional features to best suit their needs, or from Rogers Wireless’ value bundled plans specifically for iPhone 3G. Existing Rogers Wireless customers can keep their current voice service plan and select a separate data plan to meet their needs or choose from other plans after checking their individual upgrade eligibility.

Source: Rogers Press Release

This Monday Apple is making an announcement at the 2008 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Many people are expecting Apple to launch the newest version of the iPhone at the conference – one that includes a 3G antenna that would bring broadband level speeds to a mobile device. 3G phones have been with us for a while, but none with a browser that is as powerful as the webkit-based Safari browser on the iPhone.

In Canada, Rogers has had 3G service available in the Greater Toronto Area for some time. My old phone, and HTC Cavalier, was capable of using the 3G access (specifically HSDPA) to get speeds of over 1 Mbit/s when using the browser. With the April 29 announcement by Ted Rogers that the iPhone was coming to Rogers this year, many believe that Rogers is going to be bringing in the 3G iPhone and announcing service plans for the phone.

Is this going to happen? We have to wait until Monday for Apple to announce the iPhone 3G and then see what Rogers does. Rogers is not known for competitive pricing on handsets or data service plans, so if you want a legit iPhone in Canada, be ready to pay a lot.