iPhone 3GS makes Malta debut

The Apple iPhone 3GS, the latest version of the popular smartphone, is now available in Malta, a few weeks after Apple launched the model in June.

The iPhone 3GS provides a host of new additions, including more hard drive space. However, owners of the previous 3G model can benefit from some of the innovations through a simple software upgrade.

"The iPhone 3GS is the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet," Robert Cassar, terminals senior executive at Vodafone explained to i-Tech. Vodafone is the exclusive mobile carrier for the iPhone in Malta.

iPhone 3GS loads applications such as games and e-mail attachments faster than the previous model. It has also a number of new features that include voice control of most services on the phone, a compass that comes quite handy when using the GPS as it aligns the map shown with the terrain, and a much-enhanced camera which is now able to take video. The biggest advantage the iPhone 3GS has on other phones that already boast video capabilities is its 16GB memory that makes the iPhone 3GS a pocket size camcorder able to record hours of video.

Despite all these improvements, owners of the previous 3G model should not feel obliged to replace their handset with the new version.

"The iPhone 3GS is not going to make the iPhone 3G obsolete," Mr Cassar reassured owners. "Actually Apple recently launched a new operating system for the iPhone 3G which bundled more than 100 new features which include MMS, copy & paste, tethering (using the iPhone as a web modem), spotlight search whereby one can search all the contents on the iPhone 3G from one particular locality on the iPhone and Voice Memos.

"In fact Apple are still offering and producing the iPhone 3G and Vodafone Malta is still receiving a lot of requests for the iPhone 3G since this version of the iPhone sells for less than that of the iPhone 3GS," the Vodafone executive confirmed.

There are a number of tariffs, including prepaid, on which one can use the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS is also available as a standalone for €599.

Vodafone believes that to experience the true capabilities of the iPhone users must be able to browse the internet freely. The operator, therefore, devised payment terms whereby users can get the new iPhone 3GS for just €85 on a package of €100 a month which includes over 1,000MBs of data download, 1,000 minutes of talk time, 1,000 SMS and free evenings and weekends calls. There are other packages available.

With updated versions of the iPhone and Blackberry handsets coming out regularly throughout the year, users keep asking the eternal question: Should I go for the iPhone or the Blackberry? Mr Cassar believes the choice today is more difficult to make.

"There was a time when you would cut a line clearly between Blackberry as the corporate solution and the iPhone as the consumer product. Today, and again thanks to the exclusive deals Vodafone has, this distinction is no longer true. Take, for example Blackberry 9500 Storm, which is also exclusive to Vodafone Malta, a touchscreen experience on Blackberry much similar to that requested from an iPhone. On the other hand, take the iPhone which integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange servers and gives the security needed for corporate e-mails on a handheld device which is usually requested from a Blackberry device. Therefore, the user stands to benefit since now this kind of service and product is being offered by these two of the best brands in the market. At the end of the day, it boils down, as with most other things, to personal choice."

www.vodafone.com.mt, www.apple.com/iphone