Guy Kewney, who knows a thing or two about mobile phones and the networks on which they run, has posted a story which claims that Apple will announce a 3G European iPhone on Monday. It will also announce partnerships with Vodafone, T-mobile, and Carphone Warehouse.

Kewney’s only direct source seems to be Bill Condie of the London Evening Standard, who in turn seems to have got much his info from an analyst at Credit Suisse.

Both Pocket Lint and Engadget have picked up the story and run with it already and no doubt there will be more breathless regurgitation in the coming days.

There are a number of reasons I think this is nonsense.

1. For Apple to announce a 3G phone days after the US launch of an EDGE iPhone would be an admission that 3G is a better fit for the iPhone, despite the fact Steve Jobs has spent the week explaining why EDGE is best. Jobs isn’t known for doing that kind of about turn.

2. For Credit Suisse to have got this info it would have to have come from Vodafone, T-Mobile or Carphone Warehouse. If it did and if the info is accurate, the chances of Apple smiling meekly and continuing with its plans are slim. The company takes leaks like this seriously and has been known to cancel plans and ditch partners over less.

3. If Apple is planning an announcement on Monday there are probably only two or three people in each partner who would know about it. The chances of them blabbing are slimmer than the iPhone itself, for the reasons in 3, above.

4. When Apple does eventually announce the details of a European iPhone, I’m certain it will do more than just issue a press release. At the very least it will hold a press conference of some sort. That means invitations would have to have been issued by now. They haven’t.

There are exceptions to each of the points above, but taken together I reckon they provide a pretty strong argument against an announcement on Monday.

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