Apple loads iPhone and iPod Touch with extra memory

Apple Inc., maker of the ubiquitous iPod and combination phone iPhone, announced Tuesday that it has doubled the capacity of its mobile handset and media player for an additional $100.

The Cupertino, California-based maker of the Macintosh computer yesterday rolled out the higher-priced models of its iPhone and iPod Touch with double the memory of older versions.

With the release of new models loaded with more storage space, the iPhone is once again available in two capacities: 8GB and 16GB, while iPod is now available in three versions: 8GB, 16GB and 32GB.

On the iPhone launch day, Apple had introduced 8GB and 4GB versions but later discontinued the 4GB model after it cut the price of the 8GB model to $399.

The 16GB version of iPhone is priced at $499, while the 8GB version costs $399. The new iPod Touch model that features 32GB of memory is priced at $499, while the older versions with the 16GB and 8GB of memory are priced at $399 and $299, respectively.

"For some users, there's never enough memory," said Apple vice president for iPod and iPhone marketing Greg Joswiak.

The computer maker said that all iPhone and iPod Touch models come with Apple's Multi-Touch software, the updated software that the company announced in January, and that includes a new Google Maps application. Besides, both devices use user interface for interacting with music, videos, photos, and the Web on a full touch screen.

This enhancement of memory capacities of Apple’s devices comes a month after the company launched its video rental service on iTunes at the Macworld conference.

Last month, Apple added a movie rental service to its iTunes online entertainment store menu, managing to sign up all the major studios, including 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Disney, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, and Sony Pictures.

According to Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, the company has sold more than four million iPhones, touch-screen mobile devices combining telephone, video, music, and Internet connectivity. And, the company expects to sell 10 million this year, capturing 1 percent of the worldwide market, Jobs said.

Apple said the new devices are available through Apple's online and retail stores. The new capacity iPhone is also available through AT&T Inc.'s online and retail stores.

Apple shares fell $2.29, or 1.7 percent, to $129.36 on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in NASDAQ Stock Market trading.