Apple Launchs the new version of "IPhone"...and the competition gets harder

The American company "Apple" has launched the new version of its mobile phone "iPhone", characterized by a higher performance and a price lower than the previous version.

The launch of this new version aims to strengthen Apple's position in the market of mobile phones after its share in this market has declined from 26,7% at the end of 2007 to 19,2% at the end of the first quarter of 2008.

In a statement, "Apple" has announced that the new version of the "IPhone" would be compatible with networks of third generation mobile telephony (G3), which allows to transfer data with two times larger speed compared to the "Edge" Technology.Apple said that the new version is equipped with a GPS system and "Microsoft Exchange" program to view e-mails.

According to Apple, the price of the new version of "IPhone" in its stores varies between 199 and 299 dollars depending on storage capacity ranging from 8 GB to 16 GB. The price is 200 dollars cheaper than the previous version.

The company added that the marketing of the new "IPhone" will begin July 11th in 22 countries, before markiting it in other 48 countries. Apple confirmed that operators of mobile networks will help financing the reduction in the price of new phone.

Analysts believe that the new version of the "IPhone" aims to attract the customers of companies market dominated by the "Black Berry" phone of the Canadian group "RIM". "Apple had launched the first version of the "IPhone" at the end of June 2007 at prices ranging between 499 and 599 dollars, depending on storage capacity ranging from 4 to 8 GB phone, which has occupied the 2nd spot in G3 phones sales.

The 1st version was considered as a revolution in communications through the ability to access the Internet. The 1st version of the "IPhone" was marketed in the United States, Britain, France and Germany just before falling prices of 100 dollars after fierce competition represented by the entry of several manufacturers of G3 mobile phones in the market.

At the time, Apple said that it intends to sell 10 million units until the end of 2008. The compagny sold 5,4 million pieces until the end of March this year. Jin Munster, analyst at "Piper Jeffrey" believes that "Apple" can sell 12,9 million pieces before the end of 2008 and that sales volume would reach 45 million in 2009.

Although the new version of "IPhone" is very sophisticated, competitors of the "Apple" began to prepare for a fierce fight. Samsung launched its smart phone "Omnia", equipped with a 5 pixels camera.

For Jeff Cagan, an analyst specialist in the technology market, "Omnia" will be a strong competitor in the "IPhone", while "RIM" is also preparing its new version of "Black Berry", which dominates 44,5 % Of the market.

According to Cagan, the smart phones market will see a major competition until next winter with the launch by several mobile phone manufacturers of new versions of their products, including the possibility that "Google" launches its own mobile phone which will be equipped with programs from Google and whose price will be low.

Sales of smartphones were raised, according to the "Gartner" for economic studies, to 32,2 million devices during the first quarter of 2008, an increase of 29% over the same period in 2007. Smart phones accounted for 11% of sales of mobile phones, while the institution "ABI" believes they will represent 31% by 2013.