AFP - Tuesday, June 10
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - - Apple Monday unveiled a new version of
its popular iPhone built for high-speed wireless networks with
faster Internet access and more features for business users.
"It's incredibly zippy," chief executive Steve Jobs said as he
demonstrated the new mobile device at the opening of Apple's annual
Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.
"We've learned so much with the first iPhone. We've taken what
we've learned and more and created the iPhone 3G; and it's
beautiful."
The iPhone 3G -- for third-generation mobile networks -- is
designed for faster Internet downloads, longer talk times, and
takes advantage of the high-speed network to provide GPS mapping
built in, Jobs said.
Apple will begin rolling out new versions of the sleek
smartphone devices July 11 and make it available in 70 countries.
The first-generation iPhone is available in six countries.
"The next time you are in Malta and need an iPhone, you will be
able to get it," Jobs aid.
IPhone's software update features "many new languages,"
including two forms of Japanese and two forms of Chinese, one that
lets users draw characters on the devices' touch-screens.
"You can switch between languages on the fly," Jobs said. "It's
one of the great advantages of not having a bunch of plastic keys
for your keyboard."
The crowd cheered when Jobs announced the iPhone 3G will sell
for 199 dollars with eight gigabytes of memory. Apple will charge
299 dollars for a model with 16 gigabytes of memory.
"It is a very aggressive price point and it is going to do some
damage to the other players in the market," Gartner analyst Van
Baker told AFP, listing BlackBerry and Nokia among competitors in
iPhone's crosshairs.
"It is clearly moving iPhone from being noticeable in the market
to being potentially a market leader."
The eight-gigabyte iPhone 3G will be half the price of its
predecessor and work twice as fast, according to Apple.
Jobs also said iPhone's second-generation software will let
business users send and receive Microsoft Exchange email, in a
direct shot at rival BlackBerry.
The iPhone software update is aimed at a business market that is
currently hooked on BlackBerry devices made by Canada-based
Research In Motion.
BlackBerry handsets have long let people "push" work email to
the devices using the Microsoft email system.
Apple worked with Cisco Systems to build virtual private network
(VPN) services into iPhones so businesses can establish secure
connections to protect data being transferred.
Thirty-five percent of US Fortune 500 companies and the US
military have "beta" tested iPhone's enterprise email, according to
Jobs.
"It really has the ability to pack the power of a laptop into
the size of a smart phone," said Randy Brooks, senior vice
president of information technology at Walt Disney Company.
The iPhone 2.0 software update will be free to iPhone users and
be available for iTouch iPods for 9.99 dollars.
Apple introduced a "Mobileme" service that lets people access
personal email accounts on iPhones, laptops, or home computers via
the Internet.
Apple also showcased iPhone applications crafted by third-party
developers as part of a move to stock an "App Store" slated to open
online for business July 11.
IPhone programs including games, social networking, medical
studies, and converting the devices into musical instruments.
The original iPhone was launched on June 29, 2007, and set off a
global buying frenzy.
Jobs said Apple has sold six million iPhones to date and
predicts Apple will sell 10 million by the end of this year.
Apple's stock slipped more than two percent during the day's
trading but recouped a smidgeon of lost ground to 182.21 dollars at
23h00 GMT.
Investors may be frowning on Apple because most of the
announcements were leaked prior to Monday and the improved iPhone
won't be available for more than a month, according to
analysts.
"With the exception of Mobileme we knew everything else was
coming," said Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle.
"The only surprise is the thing is not ready yet. It came across
like Jobs didn't have it together."