The world awaits news of the official launch of the second generation of the iPhone. Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to reveal the product today during his keynote speech at the company’s annual Worldwide Developer’s Conference.

It will be interesting to see if this one is greeted with as much rabid enthusiasm as the first.

While we wait, here are a couple articles looking at some of the implications of Apple’s newest smart phone.

The first, by Wired magazine, suggests competitors aren’t actually afraid of Apple’s newest toy. In fact, they may be among those eager to see it hit the market.

The iPhone 2 has already been dubbed the “BlackBerry killer.” It promises to be faster, slicker and cheaper, boasting features like fast 3-G networking, Exchange support and even carrier subsidies. If the rumors prove true, it will be the iPhone many buyers have been holding out for.

It’s a standard line for companies to say they “welcome competition,” but it’s usually a throwaway meant to deflect attention from strategic vulnerabilities.

In the case of the iPhone, however, competitors earnestly have reason to welcome Apple to the market. Sales show that what’s been good for Apple has been verrrry good for smartphone makers. Retail sales of the BlackBerry, for example, are up 38 percent in the year since the iPhone’s introduction.

The second story, on MSNBC, looks at the rise of the smart phone.

Whether you’re an Apple fan or not, there’s no question the company’s iPhone, with a new model to be announced today, has helped contribute to the recent success of smartphones, devices that can handle e-mail and Web surfing, as well as other programs.

I have not yet gone down the iPhone path. Not sure I will. Though I do feel this incredibly strong desire for a phone with a full keypad to make texting easier.

I do wonder how many iPhone users will toss aside their first generation iPhone in favor of the newest offering.