MacRumors.com

Smarthouse.com.au reports that according to insiders at a Taiwanese phone maker (BenQ), Apple has been talking to a number of Taiwanese phone makers in an effort to cut a manufacturing deal on an iPod Phone.

They say that Apple will launch an iPod with phone functions within the next few months. "An iPod phone is definitely coming. BenQ will not be making it as we are in competition with Apple however several of our suppliers have been approached to manufacture parts. Among manufacturers in Taiwan it is common knowledge."

Rumors of a new Apple-branded phone have recently been flooding analyst reports.

Historically, in 2003 Smarthouse previously claimed that Apple would be moving to Intel-based Macs by January of 2004. The report was one of many Apple-moving-to-Intel rumors that appeared over the years, so its unclear if it was accurate (but premature) or simply coincidental. Apple, of course, did eventually announce that they would be transitioning to Intel based processors, but not until June of 2005.