You can add this to the pile of clues that Apple will release an iPhone this year after all. While there are reports saying 4G/LTE technology won’t be available until the next year, Apple and China Mobile agree on 4G technology ahead of time reports say:

“China Mobile Ltd revealed that it had reached a consensus with Apple Inc on the use of its 4G technology on iPhones to be offered by the Chinese mobile provider, according to a brief report on Marketwatch. “4G” refers to the faster next generation data technology in mobile phones. The iPhone 4 presently uses “3G” data technology to connect to the internet over cellular networks.”

From Bloomberg:

The company may also be able to offer Apple Inc. (AAPL)s iPhone with the shift to TD-LTE, Wang said. While Apple has decided not to make a version of the phone for the third-generation TD-SCDMA system that is used only by China Mobile, the Cupertino, California-based company may produce one for the TD-LTE system, he said.

In the US, AT&T is still struggling to create their own 4G network while Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint all have theirs ready (or will be by the end of the year). This report definitely fits in nicely to the 2012 timeline for an iPhone 4G/LTE device. What do you think?