The New York Times has been speculating about new functions and additions that will come with the next generation of the iPhone, which is due to be unleashed next month. Their speculation seems to be based on rumors regarding ongoing talks between Apple and the major record companies.
Among the things they say will be announced when the new phone is launched are a considerable expansion of the songs available to use in the 'make-your-own-ringtone' tool, an expansion of the ringback tones services, and, as expected, the addition of over-the-air downloads allowing users to download music straight to their phone rather than using use WiFi or downloading tracks to their PC first.
The sticking issue, according to the Times, is that record companies have traditionally charged more for over-the-air mobile downloads than for tracks sold via web based download stores like iTunes. Apple reportedly don't see the logic behind that, and are pushing for a wholesale pricepoint for mobile downloads similar or the same to the existing wholesale pricepoint for iTunes. Whether pricing squabbles will stop Apple from introducing any of its expanded iPhone services at the same time as the launch of its upgraded device next month remains to be seen.