The whispering about new features on Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch products is growing louder, as blogs, financial analysts and Apple insiders debate the veracity of unconfirmed reports and unnamed sources. The latest buzzing regards the iPod touch, which may or may not be getting a camera (and 802.11n Wi-Fi capability) when the device is upgraded.

As programmers slice apart the 3.0 software operating system for the iPhone, features such as stereo Bluetooth-audio streaming are surfacing. A report by Lazard Capital Markets semiconductors analyst Daniel Amir, which was picked up by AppleInsider, suggests production of two versions of iPhones will be introduced this year, debuting in June.

One version is thought to be a “high-end” model, aimed at the North American market, and a low-end iPhone, which will be marketed to Russia, China, India and Brazil. In the report cited by AppleInsider, Amir said the high-end version has an improved camera that would allow video capability and 32GB of storage. The low-end version drops the video function and lowers storage capacity.

Amir also mentions the low-end model might lack Wi-Fi, a decision made to appease Chinese wireless companies. Regardless of features, Apple is going to ramp up production capacity, Amir reports. "Our checks suggest that March iPhone shipments have been much stronger than previously expected and may reach 1.5 million units, which is the highest level over the past five months," he is quoted as reporting on AppleInsider. "Total iPhone shipments in [first quarter of 2009] are therefore tracking slightly higher than Street expectations of 3-3.5 million units and could reach 3.8 to 4 million units." 

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