Apple confirms June 29 as iPhone launch date

Apple Inc.'s upcoming revolutionary iPhone, an all-in-one cell phone/iPod/pocket computer which has recently won the required approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is due to hit the market shelves in United States on June, 29, according to three TV commercials that began airing on Sunday night and posted on the company's Web site.

This widely anticipated gadget, which combines three amazing products, 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 small and lightweight handheld device, is priced at $499 for 4-gigabyte model and $599 for an 8-gigabyte model, Apple said previously.

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 had unveiled iPhone during his keynote speech at the Macworld conference.

Cingular, the Atlanta-based leading wireless carrier and a unit of AT&T Inc., is Apple’s exclusive U.S. carrier partner for iPhone.

On Sunday night the new iPhone ads showed off several of the gadget's features, including advanced media player functions along with its ability to take calls, the ability to manage Internet and media tasks, and the function of how to use Google Maps to find a restaurant. The commercials ended with the pronouncement that the combination cell phone will be available "Only on the new AT&T" and "Coming June 29."

Of the three ads, one aired before a 7 p.m. broadcast of "7th Heaven" on the CW Television Network.

Apple’s iPhone, which was touted as "revolutionary" by Jobs in the keynote, 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.

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).

Last month, Apple said the regulators have given their stamp of approval to iPhone, allowing it 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.

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 ready to revolutionize the mobile market with its multifunctional device that has such potent qualities which make it potential for revolutionizing the handset industry.