Apple to unveil new iPhone operating system

Apple on Monday extended invitations to an unveiling of the next generation operating system for its smash hit smartphone, the iPhone.

Apple said it would offer a "sneak peek" of the latest iPhone operating system on Thursday at an invitation-only event at company headquarters in Cupertino, California.

"Get a sneak peek into the future of iPhone OS," the invitation said. It did not provide any further details.

Apple released the iPhone in 2007. It sold 8.7 million iPhones in the last quarter of its financial year, up 100 percent from a year ago.

The unveiling of the latest software for the iPhone comes on the heels of Apple's launch on Saturday of its eagerly anticipated iPad tablet computer.

Apple unveiled the iPhone 3.0 operating system in March of last year.