As the dust settles on the iPhone 3G / WWDC blowout, we've sifted through the debris and discovered a few eyebrow-raising tidbits you might be interested to know. The first of which is news that the next firmware update (2.0) could be headed to devices as early as June 27th, at least according to Apple's Australian iPod touch features page, which touts the arrival of the app store later this month. Meanwhile, Apple's cash cow won't get those OTA iTunes music downloads that were being heavily speculated on in May. Word on the street is that record labels are -- wait for it -- still holding out for those upped premiums, or that AT&T wants a cut of the action, which Apple is reluctant to hand over. Of course, AT&T wanting their share of that revenue makes good sense when you realize that the telco is taking a major hit on the sale of these devices -- a hit which will stall profits until 2010. Perhaps that explains the new rules about activation; according to a report from Reuters, the company will penalize customers who buy a phone but don't activate within 30 days, which falls in line with their aggressive new push to lock users into a contract... which looks exactly like the old cellphone business model. On a lighter note, iLounge has some real-world spy shots of the device's shell, which they claim smudges like it's going out of style, though it may be joined by a Product (RED) variation later this year. Enjoy!

Update: Apparently Apple reps have confirmed that there won't be any early firmware updates for the masses, and that they're still on schedule for July 11th. The Australian site has since updated its info -- so put the champagne back on ice.

[Thanks, Dan and Danny]

Read - Australian iPod touch features page
Read - No Over-The-Air 3G Music Downloads For New iPhone; Labels Holding Out For Higher Price Per Track?
Read - iPhone to cut into AT&T earnings until 2010
Read - Real World Photos: Inside + Outside iPhone 3G's New Shell

Feeling cheritable? So are we -- yet again -- so this should work out swimmingly. Motorola's red MOTORAZR V3m was created in collaboration with (PRODUCT) RED to help fight AIDS in Africa -- and, coincidentally, to help fight boring-looking cellphones with a bright red shell that you're not likely to miss. It's offered on Sprint and features a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, EV-DO data, and microSD expansion.

A few rules (yeah, there are always rules):

• You may only enter this specific contest once. If you enter this contest more than once you'll be automatically disqualified and barred from all future giveaways. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) In other words, be careful when commenting and don't submit more than once, ok?
  
• You may enter our other EngMob relaunch contests, but you can't win more than once; if you happen to win more than once (which is pretty unlikely, but still) we'll ask you to choose just one of your prizes.
• The prize is open to US entrants only. Hey, it's a US phone, you couldn't do anything with it anyway.
• Contest is open until 11:59pm EDT on Tuesday, June 12th.
• We'll be shipping all the phones to winners once all the relaunch giveaway contests are over. (Yeah, we know it bites to have to wait, but dems the breaks!)

Thanks and good luck to everyone! Have a look at our other contests, too, before it's too late: Motorola T305, Samsung u620, (PRODUCT) RED MOTORAZR V3m for Sprint, Sprint UpStage by Samsung (number two), Samsung BlackJack, Nokia N75 (number two)

We're still a little distracted by the plethora of 904i series handsets, but NTT DoCoMo is taking the opportunity to beef up the midrange, too. The brilliantly-named M702iS(RED) is the same M702iS that NTT rolled out last year -- essentially a RAZR equipped with FOMA -- but adds that (PRODUCT) RED branding Motorola has tended to be so very fond of lately. We'd have preferred to see Moto do something cool here like launch a FOMA-compatible KRZR K3 instead, but at this point it's looking like the company will be facelifting the original V3 and its variants to the bitter, bitter end.

Cooler than the KRZR Fire? Yeah, we'd say so, if for no other reason than the fact that buyers do some good with their purchase of this one. According to Motorola's own site, the (PRODUCT) RED-branded KRZR K1 will be launching in Canada, though no details are given as to what carrier might be getting it. Seeing how this is a K1, the GSM variant, we're going to go ahead and take an educated guess that it'll find its way to either Rogers or Fido. Look for it to hit shelves "soon" -- in the meantime, we'll be pestering AT&T and T-Mobile to pick 'er up, too.

'Tis the season for giving, which leaves the rabid phone fans among us in a tight spot: how do we get in on a little new mobile tech for ourselves and help those less fortunate at the same time? Our friends over at Phone Scoop are hoping to fill the bill by auctioning off a handful of hot, current handsets graciously provided by carriers and manufacturers with all proceeds going to benefit The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria -- the same fund (RED) benefits. Loot includes a T-Mobile Dash, LRG Sidekick 3, Motorola MOTOKRZR K1, unlocked Samsung i320, M500 for Sprint, and BlackJack, and a Helio Drift (see, we told you the goods were hot). Bidding will take place via Phone Scoops' forums, with all auctions ending this Friday. Bid generously, and bid to win!

While Best Buy's been selling mobiles (and holding out on Wii hopefuls) for some time now, the big blue retailer is diverting a bit more fundage towards the cause. Aside from continuing to offer phones and plans in typical stores, Best Buy is opening up a smattering of New York-based Mobile stores to handle your cellular needs (and probably hassle you for an extended warranty as well). While details about the store layout and initial offerings are a bit scant at this point, we do know that nine locales will be opening up in the Big Apple alone, with a red (as in, not black) PRODUCT (RED) RAZR being their "exclusive" offering. The stores will partner with Verizon Wireless, Amp'd Mobile, Sprint-Nextel, and Cingular, and should have a plethora of promotional goodies surrounding each and every door to snag your attention.

We're sure you all immediately recognize the irony in a black phone made specifically for Product RED, so we'll spare you the jokes (though rest assured, it's killing us). The RED V3i eschews the red casing of its V3m cousin in favor of a more understated black, which, let's face it, is only marginally more understated than the phone's original dark gray. Specs appear to be unchanged, too, save for the whole bit about saving the world through charitable donation. Brits can look into rocking their little piece of Bono now through Carphone Warehouse, which is offering the RED V3i free with a contract through O2.

[Thanks, Jewburg]