[MarketWatch reports] "Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs on Tuesday unveiled the iPhone, its new touch-screen mobile phone that will be able to play music, surf the Internet and take pictures, among other features."
At the keynote, Jobs demonstrated the phone by pulling up the nearest Starbucks on Google Maps, then prank-calling the coffee shop and ordering 4,000 lattes, before hanging up -- to the roar of the crowd.
Cingular Wireless will provide the wireless service for the phone under an exclusive multiyear deal, the companies said.
Apple said that a phone with 4 gigabytes of storage will cost $499; the 8GB model will cost $599. It will be available in the United States in June, Europe in late 2007 and Asia in 2008.
The iPhone will be sold in the United States through Apple's retail and online stores, and through Cingular's retail and online stores. Several iPhone accessories will also be available in June, including Apple's new, remarkably compact Bluetooth headset.
The release of the iPhone represents another step in Apple's evolution beyond its Macintosh computer line. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has revived its fortunes with its iPod media player.
"Apple is trying to do with mobile devices what it did with the computer market -- that's change the game," said Gene Munster, analyst at Piper Jaffray, which rates Apple shares outperform.
Signaling that direction, Apple said that it plans to change its corporate name to Apple Inc., dropping the word "computer."
Jobs also announced that Apple has sold more than 2 billion songs through its iTunes music store, and that it expects to reach 100 million iPod unit sales this year.
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