Mark Gurman over at 9to5Mac has sources familiar with people who know about Apple Store and carrier partner training, and they’re showing and telling him that iOS 5 and iCloud training has begun.

Apple Stores usually only begin their training of new software in the couple of weeks leading up to a respective product launch (obviously this time around could be different, though). Apple beginning their iOS 5 training within the last few days could mean a launch sooner than the recently rumored dates of mid-to-late October.

In addition to store employee training, carriers are also getting special versions of iOS 5 software.

Separately, Apple’s most prominent carrier partners have been seeded near-final builds of iOS 5 for final testing. This build is newer than the betas seeded to developers and includes some unique features. According to a source testing this build, FaceTime over 3G is active. According to this source, testers are being instructed that 3G FaceTime testing is a high priority.

Their versions also reportedly running Apple’s new Nuance-powered speech-to-text feature, though NOT the full on SIRI-powered Assistant feature that’s also been rumored for iOS 5.

Apple could still be working on it, could have shelved it, or could be keeping it exclusively for new iPhone 5

[9to5Mac, x2]

iPhone 3G S comes with typical shiny white Apple headset buds, but for the first time these earbuds sport the new “remote”, which includes volume controls and more.

Apple previously introduced iin-ear headsets with remote and mic for the second generation iPod touch (and aluminum MacBooks) in September 2008, but clearly labeled them as not-compatible with the iPhone 2G or iPhone 3G because the “remote” part was useless.

What a different a generation makes.

Now the full control scheme introduced with the 4th gen iPod shuffle is available to iPhone 3G S owners with one notable difference — holding down the center button activates Voice Control.

(Thanks Bruce for the tip!)