The much anticipated iPhone 4 danced into reality as Steve Jobs introduced and demonstrated the device at the WWDC yesterday. The crown jewel of the digital delight appeared to be the face-to-face video phone app known as FaceTime.

Nicholas Kolakowski, reporting for eWeek dot com today:

Apple CEO Steve Jobs debuted the iPhone 4, the company's next-generation smartphone, during the opening day of the 2010 Worldwide Developers Conference. Analysts' reviews have generally been strong, praising features such as the FaceTime video calling app, although others have expressed reservations. Leaks of prototype Apple smartphones over the past few months prevented Apple from unleashing a full surprise on the audience, as much of the iPhone 4’s hardware seemed to correspond with those earlier devices.

Apple’s debut of the iPhone 4 during the company’s 2010 Worldwide Developers Conference(WWDC) June 7 was somewhat anticipated, thanks to the leaks of two prototype devices in the months leading up to the announcement. However, the next-generation smartphone’s design and array of features managed to reasonably impress many of the analysts covering the event.

“While the iPhone 4 isn’t the leap forward that Apple paints it as, it is an exceptionally beautiful device and is a substantial upgrade that will succeed in maintaining Apple’s mind and market share growth,” Charles Golvin, an analyst with Forrester, wrote in a June 7 research note. “Apple’s carrier partners will benefit more in renewed loyalty as existing customers upgrade than in new customer acquisitions, though we expect AT&T’s new introductory pricing tier will lure in family plan additions as well.”

One feature in particular, Golvin added, had mass-market appeal: FaceTime, which allows users to make video calls via WiFi. Apple CEO Steve Jobs suggested that Apple is in talks with carriers about offering a 3G-enabled version of the feature.

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