New Iphone -iphone 2 - 3g iphone

Rumours are rife that Apple iPhone is all set to get an update on June 9, the opening day of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.

News sites and blogosphere are buzzing with speculation and anticipation about the second-generation iPhone. In fact, according to reports, Apple has been cutting down on manufacturing, as it readies a new model.

Although, AT&T stores in US still have phones in stock, the supply has largely dried up in the Apple's retail outlets. Phone's current model has been out of stock at the company's online US and UK stores since early May.

Here's looking into what all new the iPhone 2 will have in terms of looks and features. Also, why Apple needs to revamp its hot selling phone.

According to reports in blogosphere, the next-generation device will be both lighter and more compact than the first-generation model.

Citing its own sources in the supply chain, Taiwan Economic News recently said that the new model weighs between 110 to 120 gm versus its first-generation model at 158 gm. The weight reduction is said to have come from a material swap that will see the handset adopt a plastic casing instead of aluminum-magnesium one.

"In addition to weight advantage, the latest version is also more energy efficient and externally smarter," the Economic News added. "LCD screen on the phone measures 2.8 inch diagonally, a downsize from first generation’s 3.5 inch."

Another source, which supports the material swap prediction, says that the most noticeable physical difference is that the back of the phone is no longer metal -- the whole thing is glossy black, from top to bottom.

The new iPhone will be accompanied by support for corporate e-mail. The company is likely to roll out its highly anticipated support for corporate e-mail, a capability it showed off earlier this year.

The service is expected to give iPhone a push into business, which now overwhelmingly use Research In Motion Ltd's Blackberry devices.

There are also speculations of a higher-resolution camera and a possible support for digital video recording.
Many analysts believe that the new iPhone will include the ability to download songs from iTunes using the cellular network. iPhone users now have to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to get music from Apple's online store. Another addition will be a global positioning system receiver that would allow new Web services tied to a person's location.

Apple will also launch its iPhone "applications store" that will sell programmes made by developers outside of Apple. The service marks an about-face for Jobs, who initially blocked third-party software from the device.

The company has also been accepting a flurry of applications to its exclusive $99 iPhone Developer Programme in the run-up to the conference, this too means that the new phone will have additional functionality.

Apple sold just 1.7 million phones in the first three months of this year. This means that the company needs to sell more than 8 million iPhones to reach Job's publicly-stated goal of selling 10 million iPhones in 2008.

"The thing for Apple is to be able to leverage the iPhone for further innovation, or they run the risk of being the next (Motorola) RAZR, which was iconic in its own way, but for which innovation did not come fast enough," Shiv Bakhshi, director of mobility research for market research firm IDC.

A new iPhone is also likely to be a catalyst for Apple stock, which has risen 50 per cent over the past three months.

Courtesy: Indiatimes News Network