MacRumors.com

Apple Expo takes place on September 25-29th this year in Paris, France. In recent years, Apple has not used Apple Expo in Paris as a launching ground for new products. The last official Apple keynote speech was given in 2004 by Phil Schiller and introduced the iMac G5. The last time Steve Jobs participated in an Apple Expo keynote was a PowerBook release in 2003. There were no Apple keynotes for the 2005 or 2006 Apple Expos.

9to5mac.com, however, speculates that Apple could use this year's Paris Expo as the launching ground for a number of European initiatives, as well as possibly the new iPod. Certainly, the timing of the event coincides with many expected announcements from Apple, though no official plans has been announced.

Apple revealed during their 3rd Quarter financial conference that they would be announcing the iPhone's european availability this quarter in "a few select countries". Rumors have pegged UK, France and Germany as the first countries outside the U.S. to receive the iPhone.

September also corresponds with historical refreshes in Apple's iPod line as well as the end of Apple's Back to School iPod promotion. There have been ongoing rumors that Apple would be updating the iPod soon with our Buyer's Guide showing both the iPod and iPod Nano being overdue for updates.