Apple has finally revealed the new 3G iPhone. The new model allows much faster Web surfing, and will debut at approximately half the price of the current iPhone (how is that even possible?). One of the biggest complaints about the “old” iPhone was that it used traditional (read: slow) mobile Internet networks. But Apple’s Steve Jobs says that the new and improved iPhone is 36% faster than competing smartphones on the 3G mobile network.
The new 3G iPhone will be available from July the 11th, and the 8 GB version is priced at a measly $199. Its big brother, the 16 GB version, is set at $299. This pricing represents a dramatic shift from the original iPhone, which debuted at approximately $500 in North America.
The new version will also have an improved cellular battery, to provide six hours or more of browsing the web, or a full five hours of phone time — without needing a charge. There are many other smaller improvements, including new applications and games, as well as integration of GPS satellite location. And lest we forget, the iPhone is also a… phone. Accordingly, Apple has improved the audio quality of phone calls, and streamlined the user interface.
But it is the new lower-priced point that is bound to create the biggest waves for the 3G iPhone. The original iPhone debuted in June of 2007, and quickly became the most coveted mobile phone on the market. Its high price tag and relatively slow internet access didn’t seem to deter consumers, who snapped up more than 6 million iPhones since its introduction last year.
Lowering the price on the new 3G iPhone will likely create more demand, and shows a savvy marketing ethic by Apple. However, even though the price of the phone has dropped, service provider fees for using the iPhone with 3G mobile internet networks are on the increase. In North America, the iPhone will only work on AT&T’s 3G high speed network, one of the priciest available.
Overall, Apple has done a good job of improving an already great product. The
New iPhone even adds blackberry-type features which are sure to appeal to business users. Microsoft office, Excel and PowerPoint are all represented in the new iPhone software suite, making the new version more tempting for business use.
Google Maps is also featured, and has been integrated into the iPhone contact list. In addition, users now have the ability to store as much as 20 GB of information from their phone or computer via Apple’s iDisk service, a virtual storage program, which is included as a free two-month trial with the new iPhone.
How do you make a good thing even better? Just ask Apple. They have taken their most successful product and improved upon it. And amazingly, they’ve even lowered the price. You can’t ask for fairer than that.
[...] Apple’s new 3G iPhone is receiving a lot of attention these days. With faster mobile Internet connectivity, a new convenient contacts search feature, integrated GPS and other bells and whistles, the iPhone version 2.0 is set to be a big seller both at home in the US and abroad. Even better, Apple has reduced the price of the new iPhone, with basic models going from $200, a significant reduction over the original (slower) iPhone. [...]
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