A couple days ago, with about zero fanfare, Sprint lowered the price of the 16 GB iPhone 4S – the latest version of the much-coveted, rarely-discounted Apple device – from $200 to $149. Other carriers soon matched the price, and now Apple itself is doing the same.

From Mac Rumors:

In all cases, Apple will discount iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 models by $49.01 upon request to bring pricing down to $349.99/$249.99/$149.99 for the iPhone 4S and $49.99 for the iPhone 4. As with most price matching offers, consumers will likely need to cite the source offering the lower pricing in order for Apple to honor the price match.

Did you get that? You have to ask for the discount. It’s not just there. Currently Target, Best Buy, and Nextel stores are offering the discounted iPhones, so cite one of their deals if you want the same at an Apple Store.
The current line of iPhones are certainly well-regarded, and would easily impress the pants off the You of three years ago, but The

Wall Street Journal has this caveat:

The discounts come as Apple is widely believed to be readying a new version of its iPhone, which is expected to sport a thinner yet longer screen, measuring at least 4 inches diagonally, among other things.

That last quote… that’s for the three readers whose residential address begins with “under” and end in “a rock.” Yes, it seems even Apple is pretty much admitting that a new iPhone will hit the shelves shortly after its September 12 media event.