- The iPhone debuted in January 2007 and was released for consumer-sales six months later in the United States. It was made available exclusively for AT&T/Cingular customers. The iPhone had a very slow international release, as local service providers worked with Apple to create locally compatible versions of the device. Upon release, the iPhone was heralded by media as the next "must-have" gadget. However, the iPhone's steep price point and outdated 2G network made it less attractive to serious smartphone users. However, in mid-2008 the iPhone received an upgrade: the iPhone 3G. The price was slashed in half and the native network was brought up to speed. This greatly helped the phone's domestic and worldwide penetration, and aided in its metoric rise to become the best-selling phone of all time.
-
The first iPhone which launched in June 2007 featured 2G data speeds, and ran on a quad-band GSM with EDGE.This early handset was criticized for its slow download speeds and data transfers, and was phased out within its first year. It was originally available for $599 with a two-year service plan.
The iPhone 3G was released in mid-2008 and resolved 2 of the original handset's biggest problems: price and network. The price for the 3G iPhone was slashed from $599 to $199 (with a two-year contract), which was a big deal for regular consumers. The network was also brought up to 3G speeds, which made the handset more attractive to business users. The iPhone 3G is currently the only model available for purchase from Apple and AT&T stores. - The iPhone is very significant for both the cell phone industry and marks an important shift away from traditional cell phones to smartphones. The iPhone has already outsold the best-selling traditional cell phone, and the industry has responded by selling and marketing more smartphones rather than just regular phones. The iPhone is also important to the industry as one of a short line of phones marketed as "status" symbols. The iPhone is commonly identified as a "must-have" gadget by numerous publications and blogs, and other cell phone companies have been striving to pass this benchmark ever since.
-
The iPhone has several key features that separate it from other smartphones. These include:
*Safari Web browser with 3G and EDGE support
*Multi-touch functionality
*iTunes Integration
*Native video support - Although Apple has not made any official statements about what we can expect from future iPhone iterations, their usual upgrade cycle seems to fall in the 18 to 24 month range. Many have speculated that there will be a new one by the end of 2009 with new features, and perhaps an economy-focused "nano" model with scaled-back features.
