iPhone 3G Officially Hits 23 Countries on July 11

After yesterday's official presentation of the second-generation iPhone, named "iPhone 3G", Apple also announced that its new handset would be available starting July 11, in no less than 23 markets around the world. Also, iPhone 3G will be released by the end of 2008 in other 50 countries, allowing about all the mobile users on the globe to buy it.

The 23 countries where iPhone 3G will be released on July 11 are (we're also mentioning the operators to carry the handset):

- USA (AT&T)

- Canada (Rogers)

- Mexico (America Movil)

- UK (O2)

- Ireland (O2)

- France (Orange)

- Germany (T-Mobile)

- Spain (Telefonica)

- Switzerland (Swisscom and Orange)

- Austria (T-Mobile and One)

- The Netherlands (T-Mobile)

- Italy (TIM and Vodafone)

- Portugal (Vodafone and Optimus)

- Sweden (Telia)

- Norway (NetCom)

- Denmark (Telia)

- Finland (Sonera)

- Japan (Softbank)

- Hong Kong (Hutchison Telecom - 3)

- Singapore (SingTel)

- Philippines (Globe Telecom)

- Australia (Optus and Vodafone)

- New Zealand (Vodafone)

"Later this year", iPhone 3G will also be released in other countries, including: Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, India, Egypt, Jordan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and other markets from Central America, the Middle East and Africa.

iPhone 3G will be available in two versions (8GB and 16GB) as well as in two colors: black and white. According to Apple, the retail price of iPhone 3G should be the equivalent of $199 (130 Euros) for the 8GB version and $299 (190 Euros) for the 16GB one.

When it comes to design, the new iPhone 3G is not too different from the original iPhone, but it has more rounded corners and it looks more elegant. On the feature side, the novelties iPhone 3G comes with include tri-band HSDPA connectivity (850 / 1900 / 2100 MHz), built-in GPS, A-GPS and Mac OS X 10.4.10. Aside from these aspects, the new iPhone is pretty much like the old one.

All in all, Apple's new handset will probably be a huge success all around the world, considering its price (lower than the one of the original iPhone) and its improved features.