Apple has further strengthened its smartphone market position with the new iPhone 4 - a sleek, satisfying, and compelling device that is not only Apple’s most notable upgrade since its iPhone 3G, but also the showcase handset for the company’s new iOS 4 operating system.

Marking a sharp departure from the earlier iPhone models, the iPhone 4 is quite a looker with its new hardware; and boasts and overhauled design, a bright new screen; a faster processor; and other additional features.

Some of the most notable features of the 4.5-inch by 2.3-inch by 0.37-inch iPhone 4 include - a 940x640-pixel “Retina Display”; 1GHz ARM Cortex A8; a 5-megapixel LED flash front-facing VGA camera; 512 GB RAM; Wi-Fi; 3.5mm headset jack; accelerometer; and support for Exchange 2010.

In addition, the iPhone 4 also boasts multitasking capability, and seven approved processes including audio, VoIP services like Skype, GPS/location for apps like TomTom, push notifications, and local notifications, fast app switching, and task completion.

To be available in both black and white, the iPhone 4 is available from AT&T – the exclusive iPhone carrier in the US; and from other carriers throughout the world. The handset is priced at $199 for the 16GB model and for $299 for the 32GB model. Without a contract, the users will pay have to $599 or $699, respectively, but the handset will still come locked to AT&T.