When Apple failed to release a full-blown, redesigned version of its iconic iPhone last October, many industry watchers predicted it to be only a moderate success. Boy, were they wrong.

Backed by the introduction of Siri – the voice-recognition software – the iPhone 4S shattered Apple's own smartphone sales records, thus becoming the hottest selling device of all time, still topping all other phones in monthly sales at AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

So when Apple delivers what is presumed to be its first iPhone (iPhone 5, sixth-gen iPhone, next iPhone, whatever you want to call it) compatible with speedy LTE wireless networks later this year – be it summer or fall – it would be no surprise if the Silicon Valley giant topped its own marks again. And today there is some evidence to back up that forecast.

PCWorld/Macworld did a survey that found a whole lot of people are planning to buy or upgrade to Apple's next smartphone – with 4G LTE being at the top of their list of reasons why. Seven in 10 MacWorld readers obsessed with Apple gadgets said they would get one; almost half of those said they wouldn't wait for it to show up in stores – they'll preorder it. Only 15 percent of the PCWorld readers were on board – natch – but blend the two together along with a sample of people polled who don't read either publication, and you still get about 40 percent who say they'll plunk down $200, $300 or $400 for a sixth-generation iPhone.

AT&T was a winner in the survey. About four in 10 respondents said they would choose the Dallas-based carrier for their iPhone, compared to three in 10 who picked Verizon Wireless.

Many so-called industry experts predicted Apple would include LTE functionality in last year's iPhone, but almost no one is betting against it this year since the company's third-generation iPad, released in March, is LTE-compatible.