Many are dubbing the birth of the iPhone “the new era in mobile phone technology.” How, you ask? Maybe this overview on the Apple iPhone features will clue you in.

Basic Phone Functions

It’s great to know that although the Apple iPhone is supposedly loaded with multimedia and connectivity functions, its basic functions are well-rounded and in fact offer a little something extra.

Calls and Integration

The handset allows conferencing, call holding, call merging, caller ID, and integration with other cellular network features and iPhone functions. For instance, a playing song fades out in an event of an incoming call, and plays right back in once the call is ended.

Visual Voicemail

Another of Apple iPhone features that are notable is the Visual Voicemail, which lets users view a list of current voicemail messages on-screen without having to call into their voicemail.

Ringtones

Apple iPhone’s specialized ringtones feature allows users to customize ringtones from their purchased iTunes music for an extra fee, which is the same pricde of a song. Ringtones can be from 3 to 30 seconds in length, of any part of a song, can include fading in and out or pause from half a second to five seconds when looped, and never expire.

Music Player

Like the previously released iPods, the iPhone can sort its media library by songs, artists, albums, videos, composers, genres, playlists, podcasts, compilations and audiobooks. The rather pleasant difference lies in the music library layout, with the sections divided more clearly alphabetically, and with larger text. Scrolling is a breeze with the multi-touch screen.

Web Access and Email

Possibly the most distinct of Apple iPhone features is its web accessibility via a modified version of the Safari web browser. Google’s map service in map or satellite form offers exciting options.

In terms of e-mail, you’d be delighted to know that the iPhone supports HTML, allowing you to embed photos in an email message as in a regular PC.