Apple (re)invents video calling

Yes, Apple has launched a new iPhone, no we’re not going to go into an in depth analysis of it here as it’s been covered to death by the internet at large. There were some interesting points to the announcement however, such as the weird suggestion that Apple has (re)invented video calling.

The term “video calling” encapsulates early 3G (UMTS/WCDMA) perfectly, as probably the dampest squib the telecoms industry has tried to fire so far. So Apple’s impressively slick marketing video for the iPhone 4 felt almost retro to watch even if “video calling” has just been rebranded as FaceTime.

So if Apple succeeds in making video calling a success, its place in the history books of communications will be well and truly sealed.

iPhone 4 hardware in a nutshell: Five megapixel camera with flash on back, another one on front; HD video recording; crispy 960 x 640 3.5 inch display; a bigger battery should given an extra hour or two usage over the 3GS.

iPhone OS 4 (iOS 4) software update: multitasking (only on 4 and 3GS though); folders for better organisation; enhanced email; iBooks; 5x digital zoom; create music playlists on device; change the wallpaper; spellchecking.

Global pricing is yet to be announced, but the device is preordering now in most mature markets and will be in consumers’ sweaty little hands on June 24. The iPhone 4 comes in either black or white and will be available in the US for $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model.

Now the really interesting stuff, also on June 24, Apple will launch an 8GB version of the 3GS for the pretty affordable price of $99, giving the firm scope to start taking chunks out of the mid tier consumer segment. The iPhone 3G has been discontinued and it remains to be seen whether Apple will keep the 3GS 16GB and 32GB versions alive.

In related news, July 1 is when the company’s iAds mobile advertising network will go live on devices running the OS 4 platform. iAds will kick off with mobile ad campaigns from AT&T, Best Buy, Campbell Soup Company, Chanel, Citi, DirecTV, GEICO, GE, JCPenney, Liberty Mutual Group, Nissan, Sears, State Farm, Target, Turner Broadcasting System, Unilever and The Walt Disney Studios.

Apple claims iAd commitments for 2010 totalling over $60m, which represents almost 50 per cent of the total forecasted US mobile ad spending for the second half of 2010.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHngLJ0RlNg[/youtube]