APPLE UNVEILS IPHONE 4, IAD MOBILE NETWORK

Steve Jobs introduced Apple’s latest gadgets at his annual Worldwide Developers’ Conference this morning in San Francisco, including the new iPhone 4 and a mobile ad network dubbed iAdd.

The new iPhone 4 iteration includes FaceTime, which makes video calling simple, and a Retina display, with the highest resolution ever built into a phone. In addition, iPhone 4 features a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording, an A4 processor, a 3-axis gyro and up to 40% longer talk time—in a new glass and stainless steel design which, at 9.3 millimeters, makes it the thinnest smartphone in the world. iPhone 4 comes with iOS 4, the newest version of Apple's mobile operating system, which includes over 100 new features and 1500 new APIs for developers. The iPhone 4 will be available in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany and Japan on June 24, starting in the states at just $199 for qualified buyers with a two-year contract.

"iPhone 4 is the biggest leap since the original iPhone," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "FaceTime video calling sets a new standard for mobile communication, and our new Retina display is the highest resolution display ever in a phone, with text looking like it does on a fine printed page. We have been dreaming about both of these breakthroughs for decades."

Apple will also debut its iAd mobile advertising network on July 1 for iPhone and iPod touch devices running its iOS 4 software platform. The initiative will kick off with mobile ad campaigns from leading global brands including AT&T, Best Buy, Campbell Soup Company, Chanel, Citi, DirecTV, GEICO, GE, JCPenney, Liberty Mutual Group, Nissan, Sears, State Farm, Target, Turner Broadcasting System, Unilever and Walt Disney Studios. The commitments for 2010 total more than $60 million, which represents almost 50% of the total forecasted U.S. mobile ad spending for the second half of 2010.

"iAd offers advertisers the emotion of TV with the interactivity of the web, and offers users a new way to explore ads without being hijacked out of their favorite apps," said Jobs. "iAds will reach millions of iPhone and iPod touch users—a highly desirable demographic for advertisers—and provide developers a new way to earn money so they can continue developing free and low cost applications. And our stock price continues to go through the roof. Eat me, Bill Gates."