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Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) has launched a clock that is rapidly ticking up to mark the one-billionth iPhone application download. The countdown reveals the lightening fast pace that applications are being downloaded from the nine-month old mobile store.

As of 3:30pm PST today, the count stands at over 930 million downloads.

In addition, Apple also revealed a list of the top 20 paid and free applications of all time (see graphic to the left.)

1 Billion Application downloads in 9 months is a phenomenal number.

It has been busy in the mobile world for Easter week, with some very interesting rumours coming just before the holiday, so here’s a run down of ten news items you may have missed.

1.  Nokia Touchscreen Rumours #1.

The Internet has been buzzing with the possibility that Nokia, hardly the most dedicated touchscreen follower, will be releasing three slimline mobiles during the Autumn, each with touchscreens enhanced by VibeTonz technology, a haptic system created by Immersion, a company recently acquired by Nokia.

2.   Nokia Touchscreen Rumours #2.

This is about as exciting as it gets.  Nokia could release, before Christmas this year, an ultra-slim touchscreen phone dubbed the Nautilus which will feature a thin QWERTY keyboard with keys that rise up as the keyboard slides out.  This sliding mechanism could be gesture controlled and the phone may have a huge 4.2″ screen!  We want to see this now!

3.   Wi-Fi Mobiles Get Streaming BBC.

If you’ve got a mobile phone with Wi-Fi connectivity and a full TV license, then head over to the BBC’s website where you will be able to live stream a variety of TV and radio channels.  The good news is the BBC are working on a version which will work over 3G too!  Check their FAQ for more details.

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Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

More news on the iPhone Nano front - except this time, it seems to have some credibility to it.  Chinese newspaper Commercial Times reports that handset component suppliers are shipping the parts necessary for a new iPhone, placing the potential launch date in the typical June timeframe.  What's more, the suppliers went on to say that old and new iPhones could top 2 and 3 million units, respectively, by the quarter after the launch of the new device.



Additionally, rumor has it that Apple has ordered 100 million 8GB NAND chips, which is the main component for the device's internal memory.  In regard to physical features, other rumors list the device as having a 3.2 megapixel camera, an FM transmitter, and video recording options. 

Will Apple make a formal product announcement prior to launch?  My guess is not - though they did this with the first iPhone, any sort of announcement would dramatically hurt sales of the iPhone 3G across all channels.  With their entry into Best Buy and Walmart, I would venture to say that Apple wants iPhone 3G sales to be strong for as long as possible.

Sources: Digitimes & SlashGear

Years ago, new phones would launch on the nation's largest wireless carriers, and the regional companies would be left in the dark until the phone was near oblivion.  Today, companies like MetroPCS, Cricket, and U.S. Cellular receive phones almost as quickly as the larger carriers do (case in point: Cricket and the Motorola Evoke QA4).  Found deep within the PhoneArena forums, rumor has it that a slew of new phones will be arriving on U.S. Cellular in the coming months:

• The HTC Touch Pro will be the first to arrive, currently slated for an April 17th release.  Offering Windows Mobile 6.1, ? 2.8-inch touchscreen with VGA resolution, 3.2-megapixel camera, and a sliding QWERTY keyboard, the device will be a much needed replacement to the HTC Mogul.
• The Samsung Gloss U440 offers a design very similar to the LG Lotus.  Complete with a 1.3 megapixel camera, QWERTY keyboard, and stereo Bluetooth, it will be available in 'Chocolate' and 'White' colors at launch.
  
• The Samsung R311 is targeted for entry level users and will offer Bluetooth, along with a camera.  It is slated for a mid-May release.
• The LG UX840, which we presume is an upgrade from the UX830, has a 3-inch QVGA touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, 3 megapixel camera, and a full HTML browser to boot.  The device is also slated for a June release.
• Finally, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230, will arrive on the carrier in mid-June.  The CDMA variant of the 8220, the device will offer a 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth and a microSD card slot.  As the fourth BlackBerry to enter U.S. Cellular's lineup, we're sure it will be a welcome addition to the family.

Out of the box! It's the AT&T Samsung Propel Pro, a QWERTY slider Windows Mobile smartphone, live and in the (plastic) flesh.

Joni from Let's Talk has posted some additional coverage from her week at CTIA Las Vegas. She was able to get a closer look at the Nokia E71x for AT&T. This short walk thru with the Nokia rep provides some great insight on what to expect from this soon to arrive device.

Posting more of her coverage from CTIA Las Vegas, Joni from Let's Talk got a quick run down of some of the features for the LG Neon. The LG Neon is scheduled for release at AT&T.

During CTIA last week, Joni from Let's Talk visited the PCD (formerly UTStarcom) booth and got her hands-on the CDM-8975 for Verizon Wireless. This short video offers insight on this great new push-to-talk device for VZW.

Since we can't actively cover every news article that breaks (as much as we would love to), PhoneDog compiles various announcements and press releases that have been published throughout the week and places them in one easy to read article.  Enjoy!

T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900 drops to $149.99
Though early Curve 8900 buyers are likely to be frustrated, T-Mobile's flagship BlackBerry has dropped to $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate.  Of course, the pricing reflects a two-year commitment, and is a discount from the $499.99 full retail price.  Via BGR



Virgin Mobile launches unlimited talk plan for $49.99, along with new customer service initiative
With the economic uncertainty moving across the nation, Virgin Mobile has announced a new $49.99 plan that includes unlimited minutes nationwide, with text messaging and web use costing an extra $10 each.  Also, beginning April 15th, Virgin Mobile is launching a program called Pink Slip Protection, where after two months of service the company will pay your wireless bill for up to three months if you lose your job.  Via PhoneArena

Father destroys daughter's cellular phone after high wireless bill
It's understandable that anyone receiving a $4,756.25 wireless bill would be angry, however it was his reaction that made news.  When Greg Christofferson signed up for wireless service, he chose a plan that didn't include text messaging, not realizing that messages could still be sent at a per-use cost.  After realizing that his daughter had sent nearly 20,000 text messages, followed by a call from the school informing him that she had 5 failing grades, he destroyed the phone with a hammer and grounded his daughter.  On a bright note: since the loss of her phone, Dina has seen her grades improve.  Via PhoneArena

Samsung and AT&T launch the SGH-a657 rugged phone
AT&T and Samsung have announced the SGH-a657, a push-to-talk GSM/HSDPA device certified to meet military specifications for dust, shock, vibration, altitude, and unpredictable weather conditions.  The phone offers a rubberized handle and a built-in flashlight, along with 128MB of internal memory, microSD card slot, stereo Bluetooth, and a 3 hour estimated talk time.  Pricing has not been announced yet.  Via MobileBurn

T-Mobile USA yesterday sent Save the Date emails to members of the press, inviting us to a "private launch event" on April 21 in New York City.  Yep, we'll be there, even if we don't yet know exactly where and when the event is or which of us will be on the scene.

T-Mo's intentionally vague invite has thus far served as a textbook example of "social viral networked hype-making free PR 101," as the small corner of the InterWebs that mobile tech geeks like me inhabit is all, ahem, a twitter with speculation as to what may be unveiled in the Big Apple a week from Tuesday.

By way of twitter, a few choice guesses to get your nerdy blood boiling in advance (bonus points if you can guess which guesses were authored by yours truly):

• April 21 a Rim Launch Event, more than Android?? http://tinyurl.com/dkpo34
• April 21 will be a sidekick launch event
• I think T-mobile is announcing they are buying Apple
• There is sooooooo much misinformation going around about this T-Mobile launch event. But I guess that's what they want.
• The T-Mo event will be to introduce the new "retail 2.0 experience" that is the new Comp USA
• T-Mo event will launch "Cameo Genius To Go," a combination digital photo frame / snarky tech support bot for unlocked iPhones
• T-Mo event will launch "Sidekicked to the Curb," a recycling program for out of work AIG execs
• T-Mo event will launch the "BlackBerrie Canuck," a BB Bold knockoff made by the folks behind the Gizmondo gaming rig

What will go down on the 21st?  Your guess is as good as mine, though mine is either new Sidekick or new HTC Android device, both of which we all know are coming sooner or later.  Sound off in the comments!