Ringing In the New 3G iPhone

It seems we just saw the release of the iPhone, yet I’ve been anticipating the 3G iPhone for the last few months. Knowing it was going to be announced last week at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 08), I purposely wore my Apple shirt on that day. Several people stopped me and asked if I worked for Apple, which gave me a good laugh each time. I told them that I just wore the shirt because I knew the new 3G iPhone was being announced that day - am I a dork or what?!

I don’t have one in-hand yet, but Apple announced the iPhone 3G will be twice as fast and half the price as the first generation iPhone with its built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services and iPhone 2.0 software (with support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs hundreds of third party applications already built with recently released in iPhone).

“Just one year after launching the iPhone, we’re launching the new iPhone 3G that is twice as fast at half the price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “ iPhone 3G supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync right out of the box, runs the incredible third party apps created with the iPhone SDK, and will be available in more than 70 countries around the world this year.”

The iPhone 3G is able to give you faster access to the Internet and e-mail over your cellular network with quad-band GSM and tri-band HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) for voice and data connectivity. It supports 3G and EDGE networks and automatically switches between them to ensure the fastest possible download speeds. Additionally, the iPhone 3G makes it easier to multi-task with simultaneous voice and data communications to browse the web, look-up map directions or check e-mail while you’re on a call.

In addition, with the iPhone 3G’s much-anticipated iPhone 2.0 software with both the iPhone SDK (Software Development Kit) and key enterprise features, it allows developers to create awesome applications that leverage the iPhone’s Multi-Touch user interface, animation technology, accelerometer and GPS capabilities on its unique mobile platform. You’ll also be able to do real-time mapping (with progress tracking), turn on parental controls, save images directly from a webpage/e-mail them to your iPhone to transfer back to your photo library, and a scientific calculator was added.

Another iPhone 3G add-on is the new App Store. It provides a variety of downloadable native applications including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. As long as you have a connection, it’s accessible from just about anywhere. Some of the applications are free, and some you need to pay for, but either way, the App Store will notify you when new ones are available for download.


Additionally, the iPhone 3G takes advantage of MobileMe, a new Internet service that pushes e-mail, contacts and calendars from an online “cloud” to native applications on the iPhone, iPod touch Macs and PCs. With MobileMe e-mail, messages are pushed instantly to the iPhone, removing the need to manually check e-mail and wait for downloads, and push keeps contacts and calendars continuously up-to-date so changes made on one device are automatically updated on other devices. Using an iPhone, you can snap a photo, post it to directly MobileMe Gallery for sharing with your family and friends.

“Think of MobileMe as ‘Exchange for the rest of us,’” said Jobs. “Now users who are not part of an enterprise that runs Exchange can get the same push e-mail, push calendars and push contacts that the big guys get.” The MobileMe web applications are ad-free and provide a desktop-like experience that allows you to drag and drop, click and drag, and use keyboard shortcuts. It includes a 20GB online shortage capability, and will cost $99 per year, available July 11.

Also on July 11, the iPhone 3G will finally hit the market in more than 70 countries, and will sell for $199 for the 8GB or $299 for the16GB (black or white). It requires a two-year contract with AT&T, and you’ll be able to find them at your nearest Apple Store or AT&T Store. Talk time is 10 hours while using a 2G network, and five hours using 3G. While web browsing, you’ll see five to six hours, seven with video playback, and 24 hours with audio playback.

For you existing iPhone owners, the iPhone 2.0 software will be available as a free software update via iTunes 7.7. Visit www.apple.com/iphone for more information.