From the patent protection filed by Apple, the iPhone will most likely adapt the iPod Mini/Nano design. The patent asks for protection on zirconia as material for the casing, which is the most interesting news so far.

Zirconia is strong and allows signals without interference (how much in dollars this casing material will add to the overall price is not disclosed). A mixture of zirconia and alumina material will produce highly scratch resistant material for the “tube-like” casing. The resulting surface is easily colored and we may be able to see iPhones in white, black, navy blue, light blue, dark blue, ivory, brown, platinum and gold. Bloomberg suggests that the zirconia and alumina iPhone will prove cheaper, smaller, lighter and more resistant to damage than competing music phones. Bloomberg further theorizes that the iPhone will only cost around $300.00.

The patent allows for the use of a trackball, touch screen joystick, key pad, and touch pad… which leaves a lot of room for the imagination.

Though an Apple music phone is almost certain to come out (and most likely as early as possible next year), it will most certainly be a cheaper model the public will get their hands on first. The damage-resistant zirconia-alumina casing may also have other uses for the iPhone. It’s unlikey that Apple will pass up the opportunity of putting a hard disk inside this sturdy material for a wider array of applications.