Some Apple watchers aren’t so sure Apple will be able to wait until fall to issue its next major iOS update. writes:  "Competition is heating up with Google still iterating Android at a breakneck pace, webOS hitting 2.x and 3.0 this year, and the first BlackBerry QNX-based device shipping next month. Apple going 18 months between iOS refreshes would be perceived as falling behind."

The says regardless of when iOS 5 comes out, Apple will probably want to launch its next iPhone in the summer to entice current users of the iPhone smartphone to upgrade when their contracts expire.

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