Apple WWDC Predictions Focus On SoftwareApple WWDC Predictions Focus On Software

For the last two years, Apple has used its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco to kick-off the next-generation iPhone, and this year is not expected to be any different. However, when Apple chief executive Steve Jobs takes the stage for his opening keynote Monday, what will be different is the diminished chance of any big surprises. That's because Apple's usual fortress of product secrecy has already been scaled.

In April, tech blog Gizmodo paid $5,000 for a prototype of what's believed to be Apple's latest smartphone. An Apple employee brought the device to a Silicon Valley bar, where it was picked up and later sold to the site. Prosecutors are investigating whether the iPhone was lost or stolen and whether Gizmodo broke any laws.

In the meantime, Apple is left with trying to generate excitement about a product that has already received lots of media exposure.

"There's going to be fewer surprises than in the past," Van Baker, analyst for Gartner, said of WWDC in an interview with information. "There will be some things that generate excitement, but it won't be anywhere near the level it's been historically."

The bigger announcements this year will likely come from software changes in the iPhone, since the hardware was dissected by Gizmodo. Because the fourth-generation iPhone is believed to have a user-facing video camera, Baker and other analysts believe Apple's iChat software will be added to enable video conferencing at least among people with iPhones or Macs.

To boost performance, analysts expect Apple to move a variant of the processor in the iPad to the new iPhone. The tablet-style computer released in April uses a 1 GHz ARM-based processor designed by Apple and manufactured by Samsung.

Analyst Ken Dulaney, also with Gartner, will be watching for Apple to introduce software for connecting to online social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. Microsoft in April introduced the KIN mobile phone for avid social network users. Other companies providing such features in phones include HTC, Motorola, Nokia and Palm, which is expected to be acquired by Hewlett-Packard this year.

However, Ross Rubin, analyst for The NPD Group, points out that Apple has shown little interest in integration with social networks, preferring to let third-party application developers provide such software. In addition, phones dedicated to social networking haven't done well in the market, Rubin said.

While it is difficult to see any big surprises coming out of WWDC, Apple is known for defying expectations. So there is an outside chance that it could announce a deal with Verizon Wireless to carry the iPhone. Verizon, the nation's largest wireless carrier, has said it is ready to sell the iPhone, and it is up to Apple to strike a deal.

"Apple is good at keeping secrets, and if it wants to make more money in the shortest period of time, then Verizon would be the way to go," Dulaney said.

While there is no evidence that such a deal is pending, Dulaney wonders whether it's coincidence that AT&T, the exclusive iPhone carrier in the United States, chose the day WWDC opens to launch an overhaul of its wireless data plans. The changes include replacing unlimited data with less expensive tiered-pricing for new iPhone users.

For companies looking to support the iPhone in corporate networks, Dulaney says Apple could introduce a management utility. In April, Apple introduced the fourth-generation operating system of the iPhone that had a number of improvements for corporate users. However, more are needed.

"Our analysis shows that there are still some significant restrictions on what you can do in terms of management on the iPhone compared to other systems," Dulaney said.

The iPhone OS 4 is expected to power the next-generation of the smartphone, and will also run on the current iPhone 3GS. Apple has said it would release the new OS this summer.

Finally, Apple TV could see a refresh at WWDC. Despite being described as a "hobby" by Jobs, Apple is still spending money on developing the device used to connect a digital TV to the Internet via a home computer.

Rubin says Apple could announce that its taking iPhone OS 4 to Apple TV. The advantages would include less power consumption and a more streamline interface familiar to a lot of Apple customers. Overall, Apple TV would get a simpler, less expensive platform, Rubin said.