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Randall Stephenson gave no further details and said that he has no idea whether it will cost more than the existing model, which uses 2.75G EDGE technology for mobile Internet access when Wi-Fi is not available.

The lack of 3G support has been singled out by critics of the phone, though there is some evidence that EDGE performance is just as good, particularly when the iPhone is used indoors.

Apple has explained that the decision not use 3G was based both on the greater EDGE coverage, in the US at least, and on the power requirements of existing 3G chips.

"We've got to see the battery lives for 3G get back up into the five-plus-hour range,'' Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said when unveiling the UK iPhone in London. "Hopefully we'll see that late next year."