Vodafone has announced it has signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten of its markets around the globe (Australia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Portugal, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey).

The speculation is that this is the new, 3G-capable iPhone, but Vodafone says it is not necessarily the 3G iPhone.

So, is it the old GSM/GPRS iPhone? "It is an iPhone device", replied the Vodafone spokesperson. Does that mean it could be an old-style GSM/GPRS phone. "I can't say", replied the spokesman.

Asked if the list of countries mentioned is a definitive list or is a list that could be added to, the spokesman replied: "Neither, Nor".

So there we are. Apple's publicity blanket seems to have been imposed once again. Apple has still not revealed the European sales numbers of the old-style GSM/GPRS iPhone which was launched last year in Europe.

Maybe it was such a staggering success it does not want to embarrass Nokia.

See also: Mannerisms, the blog of David Manners. Updated twice daily, it's the distinctive, entertaining, authoritative and never dull commentary on the semiconductor industry, from someone who knows. Sign up for the Mannerisms eNewsletter.