Rumors and reports regarding the next iPhone are starting to pick up the pace, and while none of them are the official word from Apple, there does seem to be a repeating element of all these stories: Apple’s going to miss their yearly refresh schedule for the next iPhone. What’s worse, Apple has just revealed the dates for the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and the rumors about a missing iPhone 5 are still coming in strong. But, it may not all be bad. It’s sounding more and more like Apple is going to focus on the software side of things at WWDC, but keep the hardware announcement shelved to a later date.

It was a slight disappointment to watch Steve Jobs announce the iPad 2, but make no mention of iOS 5, which was rumored to make some stage time at the event as well. And since the launch of the second version of the successful tablet device, fans have been waiting to get some kind of information regarding the next major version of the mobile operating system from Apple. But, up until now, there hasn’t been any word. That changed once Apple sent out the invitations to WWDC, where the company makes no effort to keep it a secret. The company will be showing off a preview of iOS, and what the future looks like. So, iOS 5 will more than likely make an appearance at WWDC 2011, which should make plenty of people happy.

But, I think more than anything, Apple’s going to make this all about the software side of things. I think the inclusion of Mac OS X in the invitation is an indicator of this. We already know that Apple plans on blurring the lines between Mac OS X and iOS, and I think this is where Apple will take the stage to dive into these blurred areas, and show where the company has brought the mobile operating system. Not only that, but with new rumors about a locker storage system for your music starting to stack up, WWDC is looking more and more like a place for Apple to talk about how they plan on utilizing cloud-based strategies, and what it means for iOS and the end user.

And that’s what people should be most excited about. How Apple plans on integrating the cloud into their mobile operating system, and how the user will make use of that feature. Because Apple puts a lot of effort into making the user experience simple, clean and efficient. Furthermore, how will these new features affect the services already in usage by users of iTunes and the App Store? Will we get to download music more than once? Will this rumored locker service mean we won’t have to back up our music on external hard drives? And if MobileMe’s price does indeed drop (or go free), will Apple try to make the service more pertinent to iOS users? The possibilities may not be endless, but for those who expect Apple to unveil something spectacular at the beginning of June, it very well could seem endless.

But, here’s the big question: is Apple’s focus on the software the reason the company is rumored to be missing their iPhone 5 announcement date? Having iOS 5 announced without the iPhone 5 will be disheartening, especially for those who are expecting a new iPhone right around the corner. We don’t have too long to wait though, so let me know in the comments what you think Apple’s got up their sleeve for WWDC.