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AT&T opens the gate for the 3G iPhone by announcing HSPA data network

It's been a rumour bordering on an open secret that the first 3G iPhone would appear June this year; but there was a small problem: no 3G network for the carrier with the US exclusive. AT&T didn't have fast WCDMA up and running... till now!

In a release dated Wednesday 21st, the network has now revealed that "in the next month, the company will deploy High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) technology in the six remaining markets across AT&T's entire 3G (third-generation) wireless broadband network." The release points out:  

When done, AT&T will have completed its deployment of HSUPA technology, which complements existing HSDPA technology (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), making AT&T the only U.S. carrier to have fully deployed HSPA technology in its 3G network. 

Is the timing coincidence? Mac watchers don't think so. At iphone-codes, "iphone lover" wrote excitedly that the phone would be announced June 9th at the Worldwide Developers Conference:

The much-anticipated iPhone 3G will be launched during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WDC) on June 9 and will be available in the market around June 18th or June 19th.

And who else will be there to show the look and introduce the feel of the 3G iPhone other than the father of Apple, Steve Jobs, who is set to give the keynote address at the WDC.Most of the world has run with this story, and most of them have credited Gizmodo with breaking it. That source did indeed add new info:

In Spain, for example, the 3G iPhone will be available for sale at the June 18th grand opening of Telefonica's megastore—an Apple Store-like shop located in the company's historical building in Madrid's Gran Vía— with nationwide availability the next day or after a few hours. The other European countries with iPhone availability will have similar launch schedules.

.- which neatly ties in with the date from "iphone lover".

But is it true? There is only one boot on the floor; AT&T has dropped it - but, as Eric Zeman pointed out, the Federal Authorities, the FCC, also have to untie their laces before the phone can be sold in North America:

I am going to caution that everyone take this news with a small grain of salt. True, all indicators over the last four weeks have pointed to a launch on or near June 9, but Gizmodo did not reveal exactly who the sources are. Also, remember that the 3G iPhone hasn't been cleared by the FCC yet. With only three weeks to go before the keynote, that's cutting it awfully close. Legally, the iPhone cannot be sold in the United States until the FCC says so. It'll sure spoil Steve Jobs' party if the FCC doesn't get around to approving the device until after June 9.

Others are not waiting to start the shouting however. CBC News reported the "rumour" almost as fact, adding:

The conference could also herald the long-awaited official arrival of the iPhone in Canada. Rogers Communications Inc. last month announced that it would be bringing the device to Canada, but declined to give any further information.

NewsWireless has been predicting a June launch for six months, so it's worth reminding you of the other half of our prediction: that the real 3G iPhone will be launched before Christmas when the two halves of the device are able to talk directly to each other, stack to stack.

Right now, getting the wireless stack to integrate with the software stack is clanky, said one developer. The version that comes out October will have that fixed.