Apple unveils iPhone 3G S, available June 19

Apple unveiled the latest version of its iconic iPhone, the iPhone 3G S--the "S" stands for speed--and said it would be available June 19. Rumors have been building for months [1] that the company would announce a new device at its developer conference today.

[2]The iPhone 3G S will cost $199 for the 16GB version and $299 for the 32GB version with a two-year contract from AT&T Mobility. The phone will be sold in Apple and AT&T retail stores, as well as Best Buy and Wal-Mart. The phone will be available in more than 80 countries in the coming weeks. 

And in order to clear out the remaining iPhone 3Gs still at those stores, Apple said starting today that phone will go for $99 for the 8GB version--half its old price. AT&T said the 16 GB iPhone 3G will be available for $149 while supplies last.

Apple said the iPhone 3.0 OS will be available June 17, free to all iPhone 3G and original iPhone users. Users who have an iPod Touch will be able to purchase the new OS for $9.95.

The new iPhone 3G S will support 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, which AT&T has said it will begin rolling out later this year. The carrier said it expects the upgrade to 7.2 Mbps to be completed by 2011.

Apple boasted that the iPhone 3G S features over 100 improvements over the previous version. Among those enhancements are the phone's camera, which has been upgraded from a 2-megapixel camera a to 3-megapixel version with autofocus. The phone will also have the ability to record video and an API for video for developers, allowing them to integrate video capture into mobile applications. The phone will have a digital compass, improved battery life, voice control and all of the previously announced iPhone OS 3.0 features including cut, copy and paste functionality and MMS capabilities.

For more:
- see this release [3]
- see this NYT live blog [4]
- see this CNet live blog [5]

Related Articles:
AT&T to start HSPA upgrades this year [6]
Rumor roundup: A new iPhone on Monday? [1]
Apple exceeds expectations, roars of quarterly iPhone shipments [7]
Apple adds a host of new features to iPhone 3.0 OS
[8]Analyst: Apple will launch two new iPhone models this summer [9]
[8]Apple [10] begins offering no-contract iPhone deal
[8]