Born to be Wireless

As promised, Apple and AT&T will launch the iPhone this month—June 29, to be exact, so they can use up as much runway as possible without the appearance of a delay. That’s a Friday for anyone planning a campout. The companies announced the date Sunday night; others caught it on 60 Minutes. The ad demos the phone, showing how easy it is to use touch to turn it on and off, play music, check email, go vertical and horizontal, view pictures, read the New York Times advanced Safari browser that shows “any” web page as designed, and allows zooming), answer the phone. Apple has posted the ads.

-- iPhone buyers will be required to sign a new two-year contract. Based on current Cingular/AT&T rules, this means anyone who has signed a two-year plan in the last 18-plus months won’t be eligible unless he or she adds a line or opens a new account.