Apple iPhone to be released on June 29

Apple's smartphone set for release at the end of June

Apple is to launch its iPhone handset on June 29th, according to adverts the company has posted online and aired on US television.

The new handset could pose serious competition for existing smartphones, according to some industry watchers, although others have pointed to its high price and lack of 3G capability as weaknesses.

The iPhone has been generating interest in the mobile industry because the device runs a version of Apple's Mac OS X operating system and introduces a novel user interface based on fingertip manipulation of on-screen controls instead of a physical keypad. The device is set to ship in the US this summer, but will not be available in Europe until later in 2007 at the earliest.

While information about the iPhone has trickled out since its unveiling by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs earlier this year, many precise details remain unclear.

Although the handset runs a version of OS X, for example, it is uncertain whether applications written for Apple's Mac systems can easily be ported to the iPhone, or even if the company will allow third party software to be installed. The software it ships with includes Apple’s Safari browser, Google and Yahoo search tools, and doubles as an iPod music player.

The disclosed specifications of the iPhone are that it is a quad-band device with Wi-Fi support and will ship with 4GB or 8GB of storage. It has a 3.5in 320 x 480 display, weighs 135g and is expected to cost from $499 (£252) in the US.