Mobile phone and gadget news
Apple announce iPhone 3G - and it's cheaper!
09/06/2008
As predicted, iPhone 2.0 or iPhone 3G (not sure which of these two names they're sticking with yet) will feature 3G and GPS. This means faster downloading of web pages and more accurate location sensitive services including traffic information and geo tagged photos - i.e. take a photo with the iPhone and it will automatically record exactly where you took the photo. This allows you to create photo albums linked to locations on a map amongst many other things.
Style-wise the iPhone 3G seems little different, perhaps, dare I say it, a little fatter, with a more domed back. You can choose from either a white or black back cover - the only other difference to iPhone 1.
The new iPhone 3G launches in the UK on July 11. The 8GB version will be free with O2 on £45 tariff's and above, but will cost £99.99 on a new £30 tariff and the existing £35 tariffs. The 16GB version will cost £159 on the £30/£35 tariffs, £59 on the £45 tariff and free on the £75 tariff.
Wi-fi hotspot coverage will be expanded to 9,500 hotspots with the addition of BT Openzone to the existing deal with The Cloud's wi-fi network.
Pay as you go customers will be able to get their hands on the iPhone for the first time too (pricing tbc), although I suspect there will also be a booming ebay market for old iPhone's as existing owners are going to be offered the chance to upgrade to the new 3G version.
Arguably the most exciting news, and the change that will provide the biggest improvement to the iPhone experience for all users was the news about the new App Store. Short for Applications Store, this will work a similar to iTunes, allowing you to download games, social networking applications, and all manner of fun, informative and business widgets.
The brilliant news for all you existing iPhone owners is that the Apps Store will be compatible with your current iPhone when you install the free upgrade to the free software update in the coming weeks. Phew!!
One last footnote is that the email support has been upgraded to make it more compatible with Microsoft Exchange based corporate email servers - a direct attack on Blackberry territory. Go and bug your company's CTO to go iPhone!