Rumor mills are buzzing today about the long-awaited iPhone converged product from Apple. According to reports, Taiwan's Hon Hai has received a 12 million unit contract for the a device that would be released in the first half of next year.

Foxconn, a subsidiary of Hon Hai, will begin pumping out 500,000 to 600,000 units per month from its Fushikang manufacturing facility beginning in February. The iPhone is also detailed to include a 2 megapixel camera. ThinkSecret has previously reported that the phone will sport a 3 megapixel camera.

These are the most concrete details yet to emerge of this supposed super device. Even if they are true, no information is available about what carriers might actually host the device, though many Apple fanatic sites believe it will be akin to an unlocked GSM phone, meaning it will not come with a SIM card and can be used on just about any GSM network (such as Cingular and T-Mobile in the U.S.) Essentially, any one would then be able to purchase the phone from Apple, then go to a GSM provider and get a SIM card (i.e., subscription), stick it in the iPhone and have a working handset that makes calls, plays audio and takes pictures.

Personally, I think the better way for Apple to go is to launch an MVNO run by Jobs and Co. The Apple brand can go a long way toward enticing customers to jump aboard.

Of course, that all assumes that the device is actually worth using. Knowing Apple, it's hard to believe it won't.

 

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