White iPhone 4 officially delayed until 'later this year'

Apple has today issued an update on the status of the white iPhone 4, informing that it will not be available until later in the year.

The statement was sent out via email and says that "White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected, and as a result they will not be available until later this year."

In June Apple issued a near-identically worded announcement saying that the White iPhone had proved challenging to manufacture and that it wouldn't be available until the second half of July.

The iPhone 4 introduced several new features to enhance the existing iPhone's functionality, most notably, HD video capture, retina display technology and the ability to multitask.

However, since launch there have been a number of complaints about the proximity sensor not functioning correctly, resulting in the premature ending of calls, as well as widely reported signal issues that result in significant signal degradation unless held in the 'proper' way or housed in a case.

The latter of which forced Steve Jobs to hold a hurriedly assembled press conference in which he said Apple will provide free cases to iPhone 4 owners to rectify the problem.

The company says that the white iPhone 4 supply issue does not affect the availability of the black iPhone 4.