Let’s call it an uncomfortable silence. Yesterday’s press release from Vodafone originated in the UK, covered off a 10 countries – none of which was in the UK incidentally – and consisted of just two sentences.

The four line manifesto was so hurriedly scribbled it felt as if Vodafone’s negotiators had rushed straight out of a meeting with Apple in London and hit the Send button before the ink on their contract was dry.

We can only imagine the gnashing of teeth going on behind the scenes at Apple today – and the chewing of Vodafone backside happening as a direct consequence.

Apple is possibly the most image-conscious company in the tech business, famed for the way it likes to stage manage its product launches. If the many rumours swirling are correct, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is preparing to announce a brand new second generation iPhone, presumably the much anticipated 3G version, at its Worldwide Developer Conference in June.

But rumours are just that: rumours. While Vodafone’s announcement is vague to the point of nothingness, it’s an official announcement from one of the world’s biggest mobile carriers, the first tangible proof that the rumours are true.

And again, like Ronan, it’s what the press release doesn’t say that counts.

Vodafone doesn’t say that it’s launching a second generation, 3G version of the iPhone. Which means it must be, otherwise they would say that they were launching the existing version already being offered in the US and Europe.