This article originally appeared on Brighthand.com.
Though Apple has announced the iPhone 3G, AT&T has stayed relatively close-mouthed on the topic. Yet a few of the details of the new situation have been made available.
Requires Free Membership to View
SearchMobileComputing.com members gain immediate and unlimited access to expert guides for mobile deployment, management and security, industry trends, and more-- all at no cost. Join me on SearchMobileComputing.com today!
Kate Gerwig, Editorial Director
Apple announced the iPhone 3G, but so far AT&T -- the exclusive carrier for this smartphone in the U.S. -- has kept fairly quiet about it. Still, AT&T revealed that there will be a few changes for those who want to upgrade from the current model.
First off, the fee for unlimited data service is going up from $20 a month to $30 a month. This is likely a result of the upcoming model offering significantly faster wireless access.
Also, AT&T will no longer allow users to buy an iPhone and then active it on AT&T's network later at home. Instead, all devices will have to be activated in the store at the time of purchase. This seems to be an attempt to cut down on the number of iPhones that are purchased and then unlocked to be used on another carrier's network.
The iPhone 3G will apparently only be available with a two-year contract. It does not seem that there will be a way to pay more for the device and get a shorter contract.
At this point, AT&T does not list the original iPhone on its website. It's quite possible this model has been discontinued, and users wanting a new iPhone will have to get the upcoming version when it's released next month.
More about the iPhone 3G
The iPhone 3G is the second-generation of Apple's smartphone.
As its name suggests, the major improvement in this model is support for 3G cellular-wireless networking, but that won't be the only change. A GPS receiver has been added and the ability to run native third-party applications that have been approved by Apple.
Aside from these, though, the iPhone 3G is quite similar to its predecessor.
It will be available in an 8 GB version for $200 and a 16 GB version for $300. The scheduled launch day is July 11.