Apple Announces iPhone 3G S, Launching June 19th

[MacRumors]

True to rumors, Apple today announced that the new iPhone 3G S will launch on June 19th in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. Launches in additional countries will one week later in an additional six countries, with many more launches around the world coming over the next few months.

Appearing almost identical to the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3G S will be available in both black and white and be priced at $199 for 16 GB models and $299 for 32 GB models for new and qualifying AT&T customers in the United States. Apple will also continue to offer the 8 GB iPhone 3G, priced at $99 for qualified AT&T customers.

Apple today introduced the new iPhone 3G S, the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including improved speed and performance -- up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G -- with longer battery life, a high-quality 3 megapixel autofocus camera, easy to use video recording and hands free voice control. iPhone 3G S includes the new iPhone OS 3.0, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 100 new features such as Cut, Copy and Paste, MMS, Spotlight Search, landscape keyboard and more.

The iPhone 3G S contains many of the features that had been rumored including Digital Compass, Video Recording, Voice Control, 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and faster internet speeds.

The big remaining issue is how pricing for existing iPhone 3G owners will be. The prices listed above represent subsidized pricing which existing iPhone 3G owners don't appear to qualify for. When the iPhone 3G was released, AT&T did allow previous iPhone owners to buy-in at the subsidized price, but the circumstances were different as the original iPhone had never been subsidized.

Existing iPhone 3G owners will have to pay approximately $200 over subsidized pricing to upgrade:





Article Link: Apple Announces iPhone 3G S, Launching June 19th

[BrownManUPS]

Note that none of the pictures prominently display AT&T next to the 3G logo in the pictures. Steve Jobs, like in the old days, is looking for a better deal.

[applecultvictim]

white one looks extra sleek.

Originally Posted by MacRumors

The iPhone 3G S contains many of the features that had been rumored including Digital Compass, Video Recording, Voice Control, 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and faster internet speeds.

When was voice control rumored?!?!?!? Must have missed that, but I don't recall it...

Btw, It's kinda lame that they are not offering the 16gb iphone 3g SOLELY for the purpose of outstocking the 8gb that a lot of devices of it are on apples hands and they won't to sell it away...

[UMHurricanes34]

Originally Posted by BrownManUPS

Note that none of the pictures prominently display AT&T next to the 3G logo in the pictures. Steve Jobs, like in the old days, is looking for a better deal.

Of course they are. On a live stream of the conference every time Scott said "AT&T support coming later" the crowd went insane. AT&T is the one weak link, they just refuse to get their stuff together. Late summer for MMS? No support for tethering? Why wouldn't they look elsewhere? Ridiculous.

[Trix]

I'll be buying a 32GB iPhone 3GS sometime after the launch mayhem calms down. Can't wait.

[airlights]

I'm definitely getting the 16GB white iPhone for my birthday present this year. It's time to upgrade from my 1st Gen, and I still use my iPod nano so I don't need a 32GB phone. This is what the iPhone 3G should have been, btw. But I am happy to be getting it now. <3

ETA: I still have my upgrade from last year's 3G lanch, does that mean I can still pay the cheaper 3GS price and not the lame early upgrade price.

[talkingfuture]

Shame there is no UK price yet, they are still showing the old PAYG price for the 8GB model. That can't be right can it?

[DipDog3]

Trying to order!!!

Has anyone been able to order one. I have tried but Apple's site keeps hanging up...

AT&T's site has nothing!

[Satori]

Anyone heard anything about the upgrade price on O2 (UK) yet? I can't see anything on the 02 or Apple UK website.

[chewietobbacca]

AT&T... yet AGAIN the weak link! /sigh

[GeekLawyer]

That is a beautiful piece of technology. I skipped the 3G, so I'm over-due for an upgrade. 32GB Black, please. June 19 can't get here soon enough!!

Hopefully AT&T can be shamed into catching up with the rest of the world re: MMS and tethering - SOON.

[ugadawg94]

I talked to AT&T, I was told I could do a secure upgrade and have to wait 3 days to get the phone (pay the 299 plus 18 fee) or wait until 7/12 at which time I can get the 299+18 and just sign a new 2 year deal.

[tomacwhite]

Originally Posted by talkingfuture

Shame there is no UK price yet, they are still showing the old PAYG price for the 8GB model. That can't be right can it?

I hope not, otherwise we are heading towards a £600 32gb model!

[Furgster]

i cant believe the price is higher for current customers! this is ridiculous, i was going to get one, but i guess im waiting another year...

[andiwm2003]

what is the upgrade price for owners of the 2G iPhone?

I would say this is more important because that are the people most likely to upgrade. If I had a 3G i would definately not upgrade for just a video camera.

[alec]

Best.Keynote.Ev-ar.

[smileyborg]

I want hardware specs!!! What happened to the CPU and RAM???

[nagromme]

Two changes we did NOT see that I'm glad of:

* iPhone case still glossy: I really like the current look, slippery or not And it has been highly durable and scratch-proof for me (unlike the chrome). You can always add a rubber skin for grip--which is the one flaw in the glossy back--but I keep one finger under the phone by habit, and have never dropped it.

* No front camera. Good! It would be too cool, but I want it in 2010. (Just keep adding letters: iPhone 3GSN?) 2010 is when I'm ready to upgrade my iPhone... I didn't want to be tempted this year (But the macro close-up camera with VGA video almost tempts me anyway. Almost. And the voice-dial-and-music-control on one button... Almost! And the new battery... and the speed for GAMES... oh, dear.)

[miket019]

Great news but some people will still not be happy.

[khollister]

Whoo hoo! Ordered mine online for delivery. 32GB black for $299.99 (I am an original iPhone owner, so my 2 years is up). Getting it for the processor & 3G speed, everything else is gravy.

[lewisd25]

I have an iPhone 3g, and would have to pay $499 for a 32gb iphone 3gS. My parents both have original iPhones, and are on a family plan...

Can my mother upgrade to a 3gS for $299, then swap phones with me? As long as we switch our sim cards, it would work, correct?

[W1LLk]

I wish they had announced the specs on the CPU and RAM, I'm not fully satisfied with "it runs on 2X the magic!".

[hhaeschen]

Sheesh, these endless demos from random developers almost killed me....

[Brien]

Originally Posted by UMHurricanes34

Of course they are. On a live stream of the conference every time Scott said "AT&T support coming later" the crowd went insane. AT&T is the one weak link, they just refuse to get their stuff together. Late summer for MMS? No support for tethering? Why wouldn't they look elsewhere? Ridiculous.

Yeah, that's really surprising actually.

[xerenthar]

Originally Posted by ugadawg94

I talked to AT&T, I was told I could do a secure upgrade and have to wait 3 days to get the phone (pay the 299 plus 18 fee) or wait until 7/12 at which time I can get the 299+18 and just sign a new 2 year deal.

and you had a 3G?