Apple, a leading developer of portable digital media player and the maker of Macintosh computers, on Monday unveiled the second version of its iPhone handset, which combines functionality of cell phone with Internet browsing and multimedia. The new iPhone 3G got lower price, faster Internet transfer rates and global positioning system. But more importantly, the iPhone 3G will be available in much more countries than the first-gen iPhone.

The new Apple iPhone 3G comes in a slightly different enclosure compared to the original iPhone – it is now made of plastic and is slightly thicker – but sports the same 3.5” touch-screen with 480x320 resolution, includes support for quad-band GSM, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR wireless technologies. The iPhone 3G also features a 2 megapixel (2MP) camera, audio and video playback capabilities as well as assisted GPS function. Depending on the model, the iPhone 3G comes with 8GB or 16GB of memory.

In general, there are very few difference between the first-generation Apple iPhone and the second-generation Apple iPhone 3G when it comes to technology. However, with faster data transfer rates the new models may be acquired by those, who did not want to use the previous model because of this issue.

However, Apple iPhone 3G has many software-based features that are available in previous-gen iPhone only in certain cases. iPhone 3G includes the new iPhone 2.0 software with both the iPhone SDK and key enterprise features such as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide over-the-air push email, contact and calendar syncing as well as remote wipe and Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to corporate networks. iPhone 3G includes the new App Store, providing iPhone users with native applications in a variety of categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.

“Just one year after launching the iPhone, we’re launching the new iPhone 3G that is twice as fast at half the price. iPhone 3G supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync right out of the box, runs the incredible third party apps created with the iPhone SDK, and will be available in more than 70 countries around the world this year,” said Steve Jobs chief executive of Apple.

iPhone 3G will be available in the USA on July 11 for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model in both Apple and AT&T’s retail stores and requires a new two year contract with AT&T for qualifying customers.

iPhone 3G will be available in more than 70 countries later this year, beginning with customer availability in 22 countries – Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the U.S. – on July 11.