Apple iOS 4.3 To Arrive Mid-December: Report

That's according to the Apple blog Macstories, which referenced "reliable sources" as saying that iOS 4.3 will be needed to support new recurring revenue subscriptions in iTunes. What that means is that iTunes users will be able to set up paid subscriptions for iPhone or iPad apps -- such as the so-called iNewspaper app said to be in development from Apple and Murdoch's News Corp.

The Macstories source suggests iOS 4.3 will be primarily a maintenance update, resolving bugs and boosting performance instead of bringing new features to iOS. Availability, according to Macstories, could be as early as Dec. 9, which is around the same time the News Corp. project is said to be going live. Apple, of course, has confirmed nothing specific on either front.

Apple's iOS 4.2 release was loaded with updates, including a number of long-awaited features for iPad, such as multitasking, folders, Game Center and enterprise management.