The clock's ticking to the official release of Apple's iPhone. But who will be their carrier partner? Up to now, there's still no final word from the fruity giant, but Wall Street analysts are predicting that Vodafone just might be the chosen one for Europe.

Shaw Wu, American Technology Research analyst, reveals that their sources, so far, are indicating that Vodafone will most likely be Apple's top pick for its European distribution. "We believe Vodafone's 200 million subscriber base (compared to 61 million for AT&T, its USA partner), broad and country coverage, and investment in advanced technologies make it a strong fit for Apple."

Apple intends to launch its iPhone to Europe come the fourth quarter of this year.