Another Lost iPhone: Apple 4G Prototype Turns Up In Vietnam

Images of what appears to be an iPhone similar to the one at the center of last month's Apple-Gizmodo flap have surfaced on Vietnamese language web site, Taoviet. The images include a complete hardware teardown, with close-ups of markings and Apple logos, of the purported next generation iPhone model.

The Vietnam-based forum, Taoviet, published images include the marking "APL0398," which is also seen on the A4 processor inside Apple's iPad. The alleged iPhone's system-on-a-chip (SoC) is presented to readers laid out on a towel in the photo, and various markings include 339S0084, K4X2G643GE, YN6024Z3, and APL0398. Apple logos are also abound.

In addition, Taoviet's photos also show the dual cameras, side-mounted micro SIM slot and other form factor highlights seen in previously leaked photos of the new iPhone. A Vietnamese language video that appears to go hand-in-hand with the Taoviet teardown has also appeared, on YouTube.

Taoviet's photos are similar to the iPhone photos published by Gizmodo that set off the the lost-iPhone-in-a-bar flap and media firestorm last month.

The Gizmodo photos, however, showed screws visible on either side of the iPhone's Dock Connector, and the Taoviet photos do not. Also, unlike the Gizmodo photos, which were marked as "XXGB," the Taoviet photos show a marking of "16GB."

The Vietnamese sources don't indicate how the apparent iPhone protoype was acquired, though various postings in the Mac Rumours forums suggest the phone was bought in the United States by a Vietnamese businessman who was also buying an iPad.

Apple could not be reached for comment early Wednesday.