Digitimes: "iPhone 4S" Coming In September, Expect LTE Enabled Handset Next Year

A couple of recently published articles by Digitimes claim that a new iPhone handset will arrive in September, and that the device will feature an eight megapixel camera and Qualcomm manufactured chips. However, the report notes that - as expected - the handset will not be LTE enabled. The articles (which you can find here and here) are somewhat confusing, namely because the website appears to be referring to both the fifth and sixth generation handsets as the "iPhone 4S." However, they also feature some very reasonable suggestions. First, Digitimes claims that Apple is holding off on releasing an LTE enabled iPhone this year, and will instead release such a handset next year:

Apple is likely to delay the launch of its LTE-enabled iPhones to 2012, said the sources, noting that the industry had also long been skeptical about the launch of LTE iPhones in 2011 as the implementation of LTE networks has not yet matured.

Second, the website's "sources indicated that China Mobile is expected to reach an agreement with Apple to sell iPhone 4S smartphones in China in September." Third, Digitimes notes that production of the iPhone will begin in August (for an intended September launch), and that all 3G and CDMA chips will be manufactured by Qualcomm. Furthermore, the website's sources claim that the iPhone will feature in improved camera, which will be able to take still images at eight megapixels:

Production of iPhone 4S will begin in August and the earliest launch may be in September. All the 3G and CDMA chips for iPhone 4S will be supplied by Qualcomm and the rear camera will be upgraded to a 8-megapixel resolution model with OmniVision Technologies and Taiwan-based Largan Precision to supply image sensors and lens kits respectively, the sources indicated.

This all makes sense to me, though I'm still pondering over the name. If Apple releases an "iPhone 4S" this year, will it release an LTE enabled "iPhone 4G" the year after, and then launch an "iPhone 5" in 2013? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. [via MacRumors]