Developer BigBoss earlier announced on Sleepers that several iPhone homebrew applications got simultaneous updates today. These include Categories 2.04b, BiteSMS v2.3, and MyHTML v1.3. Read their respective changelogs after the jump.

With the growing number of applications being developed for the iPhone, it wouldn't be a surprise if people would want one. In a report, Apple's latest handheld gizmo is gaining popularity in countries located in Europe.

According to Deutsche Telekom, they were able to sign up 70,000 iPhone customers since it was launched last year. Details in the full article.

The exclusive rights to Apple's iPhone was obtained by Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile unit for Germany, much like AT&T for the United States.

However, the company is currently facing legal issues due to a restraining order issued by a regional court in Hamburg. Accordingly, the case was started by T-Mobile's rival Vodafone Group PLC. The full details after the jump!

Remember the news bit that stated that T-Mobile will be getting exclusive rights to Apple's iPhone? We've picked up more information about its upcoming launch for Germany, which includes a new launch date, and pricing details.

According to a recent press release that Apple's circulating, the iPhone's previously reported November 1 launch date has been moved. The iPhone's new release date is set for November 9, and will be available for purchase via Telekom Shops of Deutsche Telekom, and the T-Mobile web shop. As you've guessed, Germany's getting the new mobile at about the same time as the UK.

As for pricing, T-Mobile plans to offer the iPhone's 8GB model for Â? 399 (US$ 560) including V.A.T. The phone will also require a 2-year T-Mobile tariff.

Is this a sign of good things to come? A German T-Mobile ad was leaked, indicating a new iPhone variant soon to hit European shores: an iPhone with 16GB of storage and 3G-level 3.6 Mbps internet connection, with both HSPDA and UMTS that is mostly native to Europe.

The price tag for the new iPhone is a bit...pricey, however. Compared to the recent iPhone price cut - US$ 399 for the 8GB model - the 16GB model with 3G internet access is set to be priced at 499 Euros, or US$ 687, which is a tad more expensive.

According to the ad, T-Mobile will offer three rate plans for potential new iPhone users in Europe (in Germany, at least), named L, XL, and XXL. L offers 200 minutes and 100 SMS messages, costing 50 Euros per month (or US$ 69). XL gives 300 minutes for only 60 Euros (US$ 83) while XXL lets subscribers go crazy with 400 minutes of calls for US$ 96.

Of course, this is only a "leaked" ad, so it may be best if you take this with a grain of salt. However, with Apple already promising a formal iPhone launch in Europe for this year's last quarter, this may really be it.

The more the merrier, we say (unless it's dinner guests). For the readers who've been keeping up on the matter of iPhone hacks, we'll be reporting on two recently found methods of unlocking your mobile:

The first way is a Do-It-Yourself hardware hack by George Hotz, and will have iPhone owners opening up their mobile. Before you get cracking, remember to have these items handy before heading over to George's blog (here) for the full instructions:

• An iPhone
• Some trusty case opener tools
• A soldering iron
• Fine pitch wire
• An unlock switch

You will also need to download several programming binaries to go along with the hardware hack - we've provided for them here. The tools below include certain software that you might need from Steps 5-8 of the hack (again, check Hotz's site for specific instructions). Now, before you get all gung-ho about this, keep in mind that this hack involves plenty of soldering, and will most likely brick your iPhone if you're not absolutely careful. You have been warned. George is hoping to have a simplified hack method ready by next week - hopefully, it won't be hardware-based.

Download: iPhone Hack Binaries (George Hotz)

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The software-based hack is available for reading in the Full Article

We got word that telecommunications company O2, which is owned by Spain's Telefonica, has just secured the exclusive UK rights to offer the Apple iPhone. If you're wondering about the T-Mobile contract, it turns out that it's only good in its home country of Germany and not for the whole of Europe.

The terms of the agreement are still not clear but according to the Times Online, the two companies will have a continuing share of the revenues generated by each iPhone customer. Also, O2's own network will be modified to accommodate the iPhone. The UK has a mobile phone consumer base of 18 million.

Apple is also having on-going negotiations with different companies in other countries in the continent and that more contracts are likely to be signed soon. Those in the know are saying that for France, the iPhone is likely to be distributed by company Orange.

Lastly, it was reported as well that rival phone manufacturers are preparing new lines of mobile phones geared to kill the iPhone fever for Vodafone as well as other telecommunications firms. The Apple iPhone is expected to arrive in UK this December with a price tag of GBP 300 GBP or roughly US$ 604.

According to the online website of German newspaper Rheinische Post, Europe will soon be getting the newly-released iPhone as Apple just inked a deal with Deutsche Telekom's mobile phone unit T-Mobile. The said daily revealed that the mobile phone will be available on November 1 for 450 Euros (US$ 612).

Much like the deal with AT&T, the contract with T-Mobile is also an exclusive one and is likely to last for two years as well. Rheinische Post added that it tried to contact representatives of T-Mobile but was unable to do so. Prior to this, other companies trying to get an iPhone deal with Apple include:

• Britain's Vodafone Group
• Paris-based France Telecom
• Spain's Telefonica

One Apple analyst in Germany commented that this partnership will definitely boosts the revenues of Deutsche Telekom, citing that the iPhone will be as massive as the iPod when it first came to Europe.

It has been reported that the iPhone will launch in the UK this Monday, July 2, with Vodafone being named as the official carrier. There have been no confirmations, however, new reports have pointed out that Vodafone may be one of three of carriers, with support from T-Mobile of Germany and Carphone Warehouse, after a joint agreement was reportedly signed to carry the new phone in Europe... with 3G support!

It is believed that the new developments could save iPhone from the recent criticism that it doesn't actually do well as a phone at all and carry well on its other features because of a 2G service limitation in the US. This also carries the recent disappointment revolving around American iPhones being tied to a single carrier: AT&T.

And while shipment dates for the phone are as yet unspecified, it was reported to be "on course" for Jobs' year-end date announced last year. Rene Oberman, CEO of T-Mobile, was reported to have been "ecstatic" over the joint contract by inside sources and is anticipated to make a showing at the launch on Monday.

However, until the more formal announcements have been made or until developments at the launch party confirm these reports, we will leave the insider tips neatly wrapped under rumors.

It has been suggested before by analysts that Vodafone would be the iPhone's official carrier in Europe, but AppleInsider reports that Vodafone may not be the only European wireless carrier under consideration.

According to AppleInsider, MarketWeek reported last week that Germany-based T-Mobile is being favored as the sole outlet for iPhone sales in the continent. Other European such as O2 and Orange were said to have been in the running but were unsuccessful in reaching the later stages of contract negotiations.

Some analysts suggest though that it might be in Apple's best interests to get more than one operator to distribute the iPhone in Europe because "the European market is more fragmented than the U.S."