When Apple unveils iPhone 4.0 software (still just a rumor) next week, we might be getting multitasking/background running applications, multi-touch support OS-wide, UI changes, and contact and calendar sync options, according to Boy Genuis Report.

The blog posted a collection of iPhone 4.0 features (with a screenshot to validate its source) we’re likely to see at next week’s highly anticipated Apple event, the most intriguing of which is multitasking.

On the multitasking front, Apple’s extremely popular iPhone falls behind the smartphone competition. BlackBerries, Android devices, and Palm’s Pre and Pixi all support multitasking, which enables background running applications.

For smartphone users, the feature is killer because you can have multiple applications running at the same time and simply switch between them without having to exit out. Multitasking means instant updates from applications that are running, but not in use.

Apple has been reluctant to release an update to support multitasking, although it did release push notifications last year as somewhat of a workaround. In light of all of the tablet rumors, however, multitasking does sound more likely this time around (and users can already jailbreak their iPhones to support it). Should iPhone OS 4.0 be the software that powers the elusive tablet, then background-running applications would be critical for that product.

On the mobile front, the Boy Genius source claims that first generation iPhone owners are out of luck, as the 4.0 software update is said to only be available for 3G and 3GS phones.

Here’s what the source purports, per the Boy Genius’ report:

Quote
- There will be multi-touch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the tablet is close if not the same as the iPhone.)

- “A few new ways” to run applications in the background — multitasking.

- Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient. We haven’t had this broken down, but we can only hope for improved notifications, a refreshed homescreen, etc.

- The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will “put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers” than any other phone to date. Everyone is “really excited.”

- The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications...