According to a weekend posting on the Apple Insider forum, Zibri claims that Apple will incorporate Qualcomm's baseband technology into the next generation of iOS-driven portable devices.
The Italian code hacker claims to have discovered this interesting snippet by decompiling the latest version of Apple iTunes.
The claim is an interesting one, Infosecurity notes, as the latest CDMA version of the iPhone 4, which runs on Verizon's network in the US, is due to arrive on February 10.
Zibri says that the files "partition.mbn" and "AMSS.MBN," which were discovered in the iTunes code, indicate that the Apple is moving closer to the Qualcomm baseband platform.
Postings on the Apple Insider forum at the weekend note that Apple and Qualcomm met up in late 2009 to discuss future co-operation, since when Qualcomm has been advertising for iPhone developers.
So what does this mean for the next generation of iPhone users?
If true, then it will allow the iPhone 5 to run on more North American cellular networks than at present.
On the rumours front, meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that the iPhone 5 will feature a 1.2 GHz processor, a 3.7 inch colour screen and a major redesign.
The TechRadar newswire meanwhile has reported that the iPhone 5's release date has been brought forward to counter the signal reception problems of the iPhone 4.
This could mean that Apple may well unveil the iPhone 5, as well as the iPad 2, some time next month.