Apple has confirmed that it will ship its iPhone in June in the U.S., according to the company.
Apple has also begun recruiting for a senior level employee to handle the release of the iPhone in Europe.
In the U.S., the company has written to users who have signed up for updates about when the device will ship. The email, which is titled “talk to you soon,” promises that: “Thanks for signing up. You’ll be the first to hear the latest about iPhone — coming this June. That gives you just enough time to think of ways to break the news to your current phone.”
Many recent rumors have claimed that the iPhone will be released in the U.S. on June 11, which would coincide with the first day of Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.
The 4 gb version of the phone will cost $499, while the 8 gb version will cost $599. The mobile device will feature a touch screen input called Multi-Touch, which will be controlled by sliding a finger across its touch-sensitive, 3.5 inch, 160 pixel per inch display. The display will automatically switch between landscape and portrait mode.
The iPhone will have all the features of a regular video iPod, and will have Apple’s Safari web browser included. This will allow users to view standard web pages. It will also feature integrated Google Maps functionality.
Apple is also setting the stage for a late 2007 launch of the iPhone in the U.K. They are advertising for an iPhone business process/project manager to be based in Ireland.
It will be a complex position because the successful applicant will need to provide cross functional project management of the iPhone implementation project. This means implementing the processes and systems required to support Apple’s iPhone launch, in addition to support and providing background and connections with existing mobile phone companies.
The employee will need to help the organization with its understanding of the mobile phone and telecom business models in order to help develop relationships with mobile firms.
The presence of multiple mobile phone networks within the Apple job description may suggest that the company may bring the iPhone to Europe via multiple vendors, as opposed to just pursuing a single European partner.
Apple has yet to set an exact date for the release of the device.
Sources:
http://www.itworld.com/Tech/5051/070404iphonejune/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130392-c,cellphones/article.html
