Fierce Wireless has tracked the complete timeline of iPhone rumors from the first rumblings in 1999 to Linksys's introduction of their iPhone yesterday. It's quite a sordid story. Just check this sample note from 2002:
As we all know now, that post was the first time the second-generation iPhone was delayed. It would not be the last.
Timeline of Apple "iPhone" Rumors (1999-Present) [IPTV]
Via Digg**.