Despite reports to the contrary, including in our own pages, the iPhone update to version 3 will be available today. The confusion stemmed from a Singapore web site whose customers live on the other side of the International Date Line.

By the time eager iPhone users in Europe and the US are downloading the 298MB firmware, those in Singapore will already be waking up on Thursday morning and ready to join the fray. The dates are clearly indicated on the Singapore version of the update web site, which misled so many (including ourselves) with its diminutive country indicator in the URL.

Thanks to the readers who pointed out our mistake.

There were some links floating around the internet to a direct image of the new OS, though the fact that they have swiftly disappeared would seem to indicate Apple isn't keen for impatient users to bypass the iTunes update process.

So by this evening, iPhone users will be able to flaunt their new functionality, even if it will be a while before US users get access to the MMS and tethering functionality that AT&T has yet to support. ®