Apple iPhone

Everybody probably heard of the Apple iPhone. The first generation iPhone was announced on January 9^th in 2007 and introduced in the US on June 29, 2007. For all who don’t know what the iPhone is: it is an internet enabled multimedia mobile phone from Apple. The iPhone has an innovative multi-touch screen and because of that you can control the whole phone by pressing virtual buttons on the screen. It was the first phone by Apple Inc. and one of the first phones which could be accessed completely over a touch screen. It also includes web browsing (on a nice 3.5 in OLED screen), e-mail, all iPod functions, text messaging, a camera function (2 megapixel camera) and more. The first generation iPhone was initially released with 4GB or 8GB storage and later on in September Apple took the 4GB of the market and released the 16GB version in February.

Now since a couple months the whole electronic world is waiting for the next generation iPhone. Immediately after the start of the iPhone in June 2007 people talked about an update of the just released iPhone. The wireless internet technology EDGE ( = Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution a.k.a. 2.75G) in the first generation iPhone had already been updated and was not the latest and fastest technology in the wireless internet section anymore. The new standard is UMTS – 3G and is widely spread in Europe since a couple years. So Apple missed the news a little and brought out the iPhone with a not up to date technology. The wireless internet mobile phone technology played and still plays a big part for many customers to in the decision to buy the iPhone, because on that way they can access the internet and their e-mails from where ever they want. The iPhone still became a hit and made a lot of hype in the mobile phone section, but the revenue for Apple wasn’t as high as expected.

Today now, Steve Jobs (one of the Apple founders) finally announced the iPhone 3G. The new iPhone is just slightly different in look, Hardware and Software. Of course now it has the 3G wireless internet technology, but also a maps function now with GPS, some updated and new software like a store for iPhone applications and a new back cover (in white or black). The storage capacity stayed the same: 8GB or 16 GB. It will be available on July 11^th in AT&T or all Apple Retail stores. Some Experts say it is going to be cheaper than the first gen. iPhone and the iPhone 3G slogan (“twice as fast, half the price”) also shows that. What do you think about the Apple iPhone and the whole hype around it???