Apple makes price cuts

Joining iPhone drops to $ 99, $ 300 cost portable slide

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc. to reduce the entry price for the iPhone in half, launched a laptop for $ 300 less than in previous models of Monday, the first dramatic change in prices and the economic recession began one years and a half ago.

Apple unveiled a new model for the iPhone - 3G in S, - that look the same, but will be faster processors, more battery life, and wanted features such as an internal compass, camera better resolution and auto focus. 16-GB version of 3G will cost S $ 199, and 32-GB version is $ 299.

The 8-GB iPhone 3G, released last year, now costs $ 99 instead of $ 199. When the iPhone was released two years ago, Apple fans had wanted to deposit $ 499 for the 4GB version and $ 599 for 8 concerts.

In iPhone news event was the presentation of two directors of Apple at its annual conference for software developers. Apple is well known, to stop such events at the last minute surprise, giving rise to the hope that some co-founder and CEO Steve Dzhobs could cameo. However, Mr. Dzhobs, which is expected to re-emerge later this month, have no time. Top Apple marketing executive, Philip Schiller, left without uttering a string of signature, which will be "one more thing."

Last iPhones go on sale June 19 for two years and contracts to the buyers of the original model, and end on the phone from Apple is more competitive with similar Research In Motion Ltd. and Palm Inc., which just came out with $ 200 Pre -smartphone.

Shares of Cupertino, California, Apple fell 82 cents to close at $ 143.85.

The reduction of prices of the least expensive iPhone can be risky for Apple, which is based on the new versions have enough attractions to keep the high price of live models.

AT & T Inc., the exclusive iPhone in the United States, said on Monday expressed confidence that profits will continue to hold his cell phone in general. AT & T shares fell 16 cents to $ 24.40.

Apple may also increase the profits of the bank that receives 30 percent of the revenue from downloadable applications for iPhone and iTouch. The new version of the iPhone operating software, available for download on June 17, allows developers to sell additional content, such as electronic books, and more levels of video game applications.

Among other updates for the iPhone, the new software will allow people to download movies and TV shows through the mobile communication device. This will allow users to send photos and video as well, sending text messages, bringing the iPhone to other smartphones. (AT & T does not offer this option until the end of the summer.) As well as new software allows parents to limit the types of applications, teens can download to your device.

Apple has already announced other new features in the new programs - such as the ability to cut, copy and paste text - and the opportunity to "detention", which means that using the iPhone to connect to the Internet. However, while the 22 mobile operators allow tethering, AT & T no.

With its line of MacBook, Apple has to leave the new MacBook Pro laptops, with more batteries and faster processors. The company rolled the new 13-inch and 15 inch MacBook Pro laptops, which starts from $ 1200 to $ 1700, respectively, $ 300 lower than similar laptops.

Furthermore, the reduction of prices in ultrathin MacBook Air for $ 1500 to $ 1800. Its 17-inch MacBook Pro, which began in January, will cost $ 2500 and above, but now has a faster CPU for same price.

Apple is also trying to steal market share data for the expansion of its next Mac operating system version, the snow leopard, in September, before the Microsoft Corp. "Windows PC S came next October 22. Among improvements in the snow leopard is a built-in support for Microsoft Exchange Server, so Apple programs for email, calendar and contacts would be more useful in corporate environments.