Apple's Jobs Reportedly Ready to Return

Apple(AAPL Quote) CEO Steve Jobs appears to be on track to return to the company from medical leave this month, a report says.

Jobs could reappear at Apple's annual software developers' conference next week in San Francisco, and possibly to unveil a new iPhone, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Jobs, a survivor of pancreatic cancer, went on medical leave in January. He had said his medical leave would run until the end of June.

The Journal reports Jobs's recovery "is coming along," citing a person familiar with the matter, and he is on schedule to return to work later this month.

Two people who do business with Apple said senior Apple managers have told them the company is trying to coordinate Jobs's return with a product launch or public event.

Apple has said its marketing chief, Philip Schiller, will give Monday's keynote address -- a role reserved for Jobs in past years.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects Apple to unveil a new iPhone model, even if the company doesn't immediately start selling it, the Journal reports, while another person said Apple is ready enough with its latest iPhone to be in a position to unveil it next week.