As had been widely expected, Apple has introduced the third incarnation of the iPhone, the iPhone 3G S, billing it as the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet. The phone comes in 16 and 32GB versions, and will go on sale in the US on 19 June for $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model, with buyers tied to a 2-year contract with AT&T.
The device launches in the UK on the same date, and O2, which at the time of writing has not put together any official information on the device, revealed via Twitter that the 16GB version will cost up to 184.98 and the 32GB version up to 274.23, depending on which tariff the user takes. (Incidentally, O2 seems to have dispensed with the space between the 'G' and the 'S', calling the device the iPhone 3GS, which might annoy the folks at Apple a little.) The iPhone 3G will remain available, with the price reduced to $99 for the 8GB model.
Key improvements over the iPhone 3G include a faster processor, longer battery life, a 3 megapixel autofocus camera with tap to focus functionality, and MMS capability. The phone also offers voice control for making calls and music playback. In fact, says Apple, the device sports more than 100 new features, including Cut, Copy and Paste, Spotlight Search, and a landscape keyboard option. In addition, it supports 7.2 Mbps HSDPA for faster networking speeds where available, and a digital compass. This is also integrated within Maps, so it automatically orients any map to the direction the user is facing. A Remote Wipe feature enables an iPhone 3G S owner to erase all data and content from the phone should they lose it.
There are some interesting features for users with vision or hearing difficulties. VoiceOver speaks what appears on the iPhone 3G S display, enabling visually impaired users to make calls, read email, browse web pages, play music and run applications, while a White on Black feature reverses the colours on screen to provide higher contrast for people with low vision. iPhone 3G S also supports Mono Audio which combines left and right audio channels so that they can be heard in both earbuds for those with hearing loss in one ear.
Apple says the iPhone 3G S will be available in over 80 countries by August.