Unlike rival Microsoft, Apple has a well-deserved reputation for “getting it right the first time,” which began with the introduction of the McIntosh computer in 1984. And from all reports, the iPhone is no exception. The long-awaited iPhone, which will combine a widescreen iPod, an Internet communications device, digital camera and a mobile phone into one handheld device, was announced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, at the Macworld conference held in San Francisco in January.

“iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone,” said Jobs in a prepared statement. “We are all born with the ultimate pointing device — our fingers — and iPhone uses them to create the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse.”

Perhaps the iPhone’s most distinguishing feature is its user interface, which is based on a large multi-touch, keyless display and software that will allow users to control the device with just their fingers. Featuring a new input technology called “Multi-Touch” the iPhone features only a single physical button, called “home.” Users control the phone by sliding a finger across its touch-sensitive 3.5-inch display.

The iPhone runs Mac OS X, has full iTunes integration and can seamlessly sync data with a Mac, PC, or Internet service, including music and videos from iTunes, contacts, calendars, photos, notes, bookmarks and email accounts.

The device itself is less than .5 inch thick and weighs a mere 4.8 ounces — making it thinner than Motorola’s popular RAZR and lighter than the Palm Treo 700p. Standard features include a 2-megapixel camera, volume control, ring-silent switch, 3.5-millimeter headset/audio jack, SIM tray, “sleep-wake” switch, speaker, microphone and a 30-pin iPod dock connector.

The quad-band GSM (850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz) + EDGE phone also has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities and 3G capabilities are anticipated in the future.

The iPhone also includes three “smart” sensors to help control the iPhone’s behavior. A proximity sensor shuts down the display and touchscreen when the phone is held to the ear. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts screen brightness to save power. Finally, an accelerometer lets the phone know whether to display in portrait or landscape mode.

In spite of this impressive list of features, some not found on any other mobile phone or smart phone, Jobs presentation at Macworld focused strongly on the device’s capability as a phone.

“We want to reinvent the phone,” Jobs said. “What’s the killer app? The killer app is making calls. It’s amazing how hard it is to make calls on phones. We want you to use contacts like never before.”

The phone portion of iPhone includes a unique “Visual Voice-mail” feature that allows users to skip directly to voice mails they want to hear. There is also a conference call feature that allows users connect two calls with a single touch.

The iPhone can automatically connect to the Internet with both Wi-Fi and EDGE capabilities. Internet connectivity includes HTML-capable e-mail that works with any IMAP or POP3 e-mail service and Yahoo will offer free push e-mail — similar to the e-mail system on a Blackberry — to all iPhone customers.

Apple also included its Safari web browser, and the phone can use its Internet capabilities to view standard Web pages, rather than WAP versions of pages. Integrated Google Maps functionality lets users look up locations, search for local businesses and view satellite imagery.

Only time will tell if Apple’s first venture into the mobile communications field will be as widely successful as the iPod. The iPhone is expected to be available around June in the United States, exclusively from Cingular Wireless and will come in two versions: a 4GB, $499 model and an 8GB, $599 model. Both will require a two-year contract. There is no word when other carriers such as Verizon will have the iPhone available.

Apple plans to bring the iPhone to Europe in the fourth calendar quarter of 2007, and to Asia in 2008. Jobs also mentioned two accessories for the iPhone: stereo headphones with integrated microphone, and a Bluetooth headset that pairs automatically with the iPhone and goes to sleep to preserve battery life.