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Apple has unveiled a new version of its popular iPhone built for the high-speed 3G mobile networks with faster internet access and more features for business users.
Apple will roll out new versions of the sleek smartphone device from July 11 and make it available in 70 countries. The first iPhone, which went on sale on June 29 last year, is available in six countries.
In the US, the base model 3G iPhone 3G will sell for $US199 ($A208) with 8GB of memory. The 16GB model will retail for $US299 ($A313) and the 32 GB model will sell for $US399 ($A417).
The much anticipate phone was unveiled by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the opening of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. "We've learned so much with the first iPhone," he told the audience. "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. For would-be Australian users, the picture is far from clear.
The new 3G iPhone will also be available in locally on July 11 but other key details such as pricing are not mentioned in any of the official announcements.
The local Apple website shows only that the phone can be bought through Optus and Vodafone, the two carriers to have signed deals with Apple.
Typically, Apple products cost between 20-30 per cent more in Australia when compared with US prices - even though the US and Australian dollars are almost at parity.
Strangely, there is also no mention of the phone being available directly from Apple's online store or from it's new Sydney retail outlet which opens on June 19.
That could mean that the iPhone will be tied to those two carriers and not open slather, as was anticipated.
Optus is taking orders for the phone on its website with a fully-refundable $100 deposit.
A joint statement released by Apple and Vodafone says that the 3G iPhone will be available on both prepay and contract price plans.
Vodafone says it will let would-be customers pre-register for the phone on its website "in the next few days''.
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.
"We've done it," Jobs told an auditorium packed with software developers and media. "You can push email to Microsoft Exchange."
The iPhone software update is aimed at a business market 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.
Jobs said 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.
"Everything they told us they wanted we have built right into iPhone 2.0 software right out of the box."
Thirty-five per cent of US Fortune 500 companies and the US military have "beta-tested" iPhone's enterprise email, Jobs said.
"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.
The original iPhone launched last June set off a global buying frenzy
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Steve Jobs unveils Apple's new 3G iPhone
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