Apple's iPhone wins FCC nod

Apple Inc. on Thursday has won the required approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its much-hyped mobile phone, called iPhone, taking its upcoming revolutionary handset one step closer to market shelves.

The FCC issued a "grant of equipment authorization" for the widely anticipated gadget, allowing computer maker to sell iPhone in the United States. The approval of FCC, which is an independent executive agency of the U.S. government established to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest, is necessary before a manufacturer can sell a handset to consumers.

Apple yesterday said the regulators have gave their stamp of approval to iPhone. "The iPhone has passed its required FCC certification milestone and is on schedule to ship in late June as planned," Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said.

Cingular, the Atlanta-based leading wireless carrier and a unit of AT&T Inc., which is Apple’s exclusive U.S. carrier partner for iPhone, plans to start selling the iPhone late next month.

Apple made its long-awaited entry into the cellphone world in January by launching its much-anticipated mobile phone, iPhone, at the annual Macworld conference and Expo in San Francisco.

Apple's CEO and chief showman, Steve Jobs unveiled iPhone, combining a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching into one device, during his keynote speech at the Macworld conference.

After revolutionizing the personal computing with its Macintosh line of desktop and notebook computers, and digital media market with its most popular iPod, the Cupertino, California based Apple is coming up with its multifunctional device that has such potent qualities which make it potential for revolutionizing the mobile market.

Unlike the tiny multiple keys found on existing smart phones, Apple's iPhone has a single button and a 3.5-inch (9-cm) touch screen, and is larger than the iPod Nano. With a black front and silver back, the iPhone according to Apple is the thinnest smart phone in the market having thickness of 11.6 millimeters (0.5-inches).

Priced at $499 for 4-gigabyte model and $599 for an 8-gigabyte model, Apple’s revolutionary phone has a built-in camera, five hours of continuous talk time and 15 hours for playing music, and runs Safari Web browser and Apple's Macintosh operating system software. It has Bluetooth, a short-range wireless technology that supports wireless headsets or links to devices like printers, and can connect to the Internet wirelessly via Wi-Fi.

News of the US Federal Communications Commission certification came after Apple had to quell rumours of a delay to the iPhone. Ms Kerris said that last week’s reports that Apple had sent an email to employees saying that the iPhone and Leopard, next version of the Mac operating system, would be delayed by several months were not true.

"That communication was a fake and did not come from Apple," Ms Kerris said.

Apple asked the FCC to keep some documents private. It requested commission not to release documents that include photos of the phone or the phone's user manual for 45 days after certification. The Mac/iPod maker asked that other documents such as diagrams, a schematic of the radio, the radio bill of materials and operational descriptions remain private indefinitely. The regulators agreed to the requests.

After the FCC nod, shares of Apple were up 2.2 per cent to $109.70 in late afternoon trading on Thursday.