O2 UK has revealed that more than 130,000 people have pre-registered their interest in buying a 3G iPhone when it goes on sale next month.

That's nearly four times as many as the 35,000 who pre-registered for the original iPhone last year. Price is surely a factor, given that O2 plans to offer the 3G model for free on a £45-a-month contract.

Filling in a website form to find out how to buy a 3G iPhone is one thing, of course, and actually signing up to that long contract is another, so there's no guarantee that 130,000 pre-registrations equals 130,000 sales on Day One.

However, the implications are good for mobile game developers and publishers, as it should ensure a healthy base of consumers with new iPhones at the launch of the iPhone App Store next month, not to mention those existing non-3G iPhone owners who don't choose to upgrade, but may still buy games.

There's still no news on how many games will be available on the App Store's launch day, however, or which publishers will have titles ready.