The latest version of Apple's iPhone, the iPhone 3GS was released in June 2009 and one million of them were sold in just three days - but what's all the fuss is about? uSwitch explains the iPhone 3GS.
What is the iPhone 3G?
The Apple iPhone 3GS is a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod and a revolutionary mobile internet device all packed up into a sleek, modern package. It comes with a touch screen, 3G web browsing, emails, maps with GPS tracking, voice control - the list goes on and on. The new 3GS model is twice as fast and has double the capacity of its predecessor with either 16GB or 32GB of memory - more than enough to store all your favourite iTunes tracks, videos and pictures.
With the iPhone 3GS you also get access to hundreds of downloads - both free and paid for - from the iPhone Apps Store, which can make your iPhone do just about anything. From games to language tools to Google Earth, there's a dizzying number to choose from - and new applications are being added to the iPhone Apps Store every day.
As an iPhone customer you'll get unlimited web browsing - so you can use the internet on your iPhone as much as you want, whenever you want - to download music, applications or just surf the net. The Apple iPhone is only available on O2, though both pay as you go and contract customers can get iPhones on a range of different tariffs.
The Apple iPhone 3GS has many groundbreaking features, and this latest model also attempts to improve on some of the flaws of the earlier models.
The old iPhone's 2.0 megapixel camera has been upgraded to a 3 megapixel autofocus version, and it can now record video too. Plus you can now share pictures and videos them with your friends via multi-media messages, while before you could only send them through email. The iPhone 3GS is also a step up from the earlier models, in that you can now cut, copy and paste text from emails, text messages or documents.
One drawback is that the iPhone is only available on O2, so you'll be tied to one provider for as long as you want to use it - but most people seem to agree that it's a small price to pay for a phone that can do so much.
How can I get an iPhone?
If you want to get your hands on the improved, faster Apple iPhone 3GS, you currently have the choice of two providers - O2 or Orange, although Vodafone looks set to start providing the iPhone from early in 2010.
With both O2 and Orange you'll either have to sign a mobile phone contract - which will get you an iPhone for free on some tariffs - or take a pay as you go tariff and buy the handset.
- The Apple iPhone is available for free on some O2 and Orange price plans.
- O2 and Orange pay as you go customers can get an iPhone 3GS from about £440 for the 16GB model.
- If you're looking for alternatives to the iPhone, try a BlackBerry, which comes with automatic email forwarding.
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