Apple’s iPhone 4 features an all new design with a high resolution screen, improved 5 megapixel camera with flash and is capable of shooting 720p resolution HD video. There is also a front facing camera that allows users to make video calls, called Face Time – from within a wi-fi zone.

The iPhone 4 costs $859 to buy outright, but the major Australian mobile phone operators have all released very competitive pricing plans in order to capture as many new customers as possible.

TELSTRA

OPTUS

On a $49 with a 2 year contract you get 1Gb of data, $450 of included services and $0 upfront for an iPhone 3GS.
$8 a month extra gets you the 16Gb iPhone 4 and $16 a month extra gets you the 32Gb version.
The $59 cap includes 2Gb data and $550 of included services, the $79 cap includes 3Gb data and $880 of included services and the $89 cap includes unlimited talk and text plus 3Gb of data.

Optus also offers unmetered access to social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn and Ebay.

3 MOBILE

For $39 a month you get $200 of calls to Vodaphone and 3 customers, $150 of calls to anyone and 150Mb of data plus a bonus 1Gb for any iPhone.
The iPhone 4 16Gb is an extra $10 a month on a 2 year contract and the 32Gb version is am extra $24 per month.
The $79 for 24 months plan gets any iPhone for $0 upfront, $450 of calls to Vodaphone and 3, $650 calls to any network and 2Gb of data.

VODAPHONE

The cheapest $29 a month plan includes unlimited calls to Vodaphone and 3 customers, $180 of calls to anyone and 500Mb of data. The iPhone costs between $12 and $24 extra a month.
Other plans are $49, $69, $79 and $99 and offer 500Mb, 750Mb, 1Gb and 2Gb of data respectively. All have unlimited calls to Vodaphone and 3 mobiles. The $79 and $99 plans are $0 upfront for any iPhone and the $99 plan has unlimited calls to anyone.

The new iPhone 4 was released in the US on June 24 and in Australia on July 30th. Apple’s latest iPhone 4 is basically two glass sheets held together by a thin metal band. The metal band acts as the phone’s antenna for phone calls, Wi-Fi and bluetooth.

Recent reports out of the US have highlighted issues when covering the left bottom corner of the metal band resulting in loss of signal strength. The loss of signal has not resulted in dropped calls and using a phone case makes the issue disappear. The issue has not affected iPhone sales with stock shortages reported across the US and UK. Apple is currently offering Australian iphone purchasers a free case.

iPhone 4 facts:

• The iPhone 4 is 9.3mm thick, 24% thinner than the iPhone 3GS.
• Has a 960 x 680 pixel high resolution screen, which is actually 4 times better than the 3GS, to make apps, web pages, emails and images look even better.
• 5 megapixel camera with built in LED flash that shoots high definition video at 720p and 30 frames per second.
• Uses the same A4 processor as found in the iPad so applications open faster and functions are performed quicker.
• Has video calling capability with a front facing camera.
• Features a 6 axis gyroscope for movement of objects on the screen.
• Includes a bigger battery that gives up to 40% more usage between charges.

The iPhone 4 has aluminosilicate glass on both the front and the back. The glass is a thermal and shock resistant material that is thirty times harder than plastic and is extremely scratch resistant.

iPhone 4 Cost and Plans

Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and 3 Mobile have all launched a range of new iPhone 4 pricing plans. All four companies are offering the $859 phone for free on two year contracts which include significant internet allowances.

• Optus is offering the 16Gb iPhone 4 for free on a $59 cap over 24 months. The largest 32Gb model is being offered on a $79 cap, including $800 in calls and 2Gb of downloads.
• Telstra gives its customers a free 16Gb iPhone4 on its $79 cap or a free 32Gb iPhone4 on its $99 plan over 2 years.
• Vodafone and 3 Mobile offer a free 16Gb iPhone on a $69 plan and a 32Gb iPhone on a $79 plan.

2 megapixel camera
Going by its megapixel rating the iPhone’s camera is entry level standard. In comparison, Sony’s C905 camera phones feature an 8.1-megapixel sensor.

No Multimedia Message Service
Not being able to send a multimedia message is going to disappoint many users. MMS is a feature in both low-end and top-shelf phones from other companies.

No replaceable battery
Every other phone on the market has a replaceable battery.

No video recording
Despite being the ideal phone for showing video, the iPhone 3G doesn’t allow you to shoot video. In comparison the Nokias N93i enables the user to shoot up to 90 minutes of “DVD quality” video.

No voice dialling
Mobile phone users frequently find themselves behind the wheel of a car, where voice dialling is invaluable. Most other phones do voice dialling.