Ipod phone or iphone on the horizon?

From all accounts it looks as though Apple is bringing out an iphone. There has been a lot of buzz around the net of late about Apple’s foray into the mobile phone / mp# player combination, however a new patent application filed by Apple very strongly suggests that an iphone is on the way.

The patent describes “a portable computing device capable of wireless communications, comprising: an enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable gadget, the enclosure including a structural wall formed from a ceramic material that permits wireless communication”.

The patent was filed back in Aug but was made public by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Friday.

Technology Magazine Red Herring reported that Apple has contracted a firm located in Taiwan to make over 12 million units of this new device but this has not been confirmed or denied by Apple.

Keep your eyes out early next year as this is the rumored release date of Apple’s latest gadget.