iPhone fans: Get ready for July

SINGAPORE — The first shipments of the new iPhone 4 will arrive in Singapore as early as next month but local telecommunications companies yesterday said it could be several months before it goes on sale.

Apple’s latest smartphone will debut on June 24 in the United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan at a price of US$199 ($282) for a 16-gigabyte model and US$299 for a 32-gigabyte model, chief executive Steve Jobs announced on Monday. Local pricing of the device was unavailable, however.

Telco SingTel said it was in the final stages of discussions with Apple to bring the handset to Singapore, while StarHub and M1 said they hoped to bring in the product in the coming months.

Singapore was one of 17 countries slated to receive shipments next month during a presentation by Mr Jobs at Apple’s annual conference for software developers in San Francisco. By September, the phone will be
available in 88 countries, which Mr Jobs said was Apple’s “fastest roll out ever”.

The iPhone 4 boasts a higher-resolution screen, longer battery life and most notably, a camera on the front that can be used for video-conferencing, in addition to a 5-megapixel camera on the back.

Some of the mystery surrounding Apple’s latest was punctured in April, when the tech blog Gizmodo bought a lost iPhone prototype for US$5,000 and posted pictures online.

The iPhone 4 is sleeker than previous models and comes in black or white, though it has a more angular look. Its front and back are covered with glass, and it is rimmed with stainless steel that acts as part of the phone’s antenna. It is about 0.93cm thick; 24 per cent thinner than previous models. It can shoot high-definition video,
catching up with other smart phones.

The new phone will run the latest version of Apple’s mobile software, the iOS4, which allows for multi-tasking. Older iPhones and iPod Touch devices will be able to get iOS4 as a free download on June 21,
though not all features will work on them.

The iPhone 4 should help Apple reestablish its leadership, some analysts said. “When it ships, it will be the best smart phone on the market,” said Mr Tim Bajarin, an analyst with Creative Strategies. “It gives Apple a year’s lead on competitors, if not  more.” AGENCIES

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