Apple on Monday released iTunes 8.2 with support for iPhone 3.0, an indication that the latest smartphone operating system will be generally available soon.

While Apple has not made any official announcements, there’s been lots of speculation on the Web that Apple could release iPhone 3.0 out of beta at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco next week. The iTunes support makes that scenario more likely.

Apple has been gradually preparing the industry for iPhone 3.0. Last month, the company told developers it would only accept for the App Store programs that are compatible with the upcoming OS.

Apple introduced iPhone 3.0 in March. Currently in beta, the software introduces a number of consumer-oriented features, including cut and paste, multimedia text capabilities, and a universal search function. In addition, it opens the door for more innovative and lucrative apps by enabling in-app purchasing, peer-to-peer multiplayer capabilities, and apps with third-party hardware.

Along with the iPhone 3.0 support, iTunes 8.2 also includes bug fixes and better security. The latter involves improved bounds checking to prevent a stack buffer overflow that could result in application termination or arbitrary code execution, Apple said.

Along with iPhone 3.0, Apple is also expected to use the WWDC to focus on the new version of Mac OS X, Snow Leopard. Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is not expected to participate in the opening keynote. Kicking off the San Francisco event will be a team of execs led by Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior VP of worldwide product marketing.

[ Source InformationWeek ]