Law Technology

The new iPhone is set to be unveiled in less than two weeks. Here are the top new features of the second generation iPhone:

1. Browse Westlaw and Lexis Faster: 3G Connectivity

The new iPhone will run on a ?3G? or third-generation network. While that translates to speeds of up to 42 Mbps, (think ten times faster than DSL or Cable), here in the United States, we likely see only a fraction of that. Initially, we will see speeds approaching the speed of your home DSL or cable connection. By the end of the year, speeds should increase five-fold. Even at the lower speeds though, the improvement over the current offering will be dramatic, and you will finally be able to access Westlaw or Lexis on your iPhone without waiting five minutes for a page to load. It will also mean you will be able to upload large documents and multimedia files quickly. Fortune reports that only 73% of the 3G network is currently in place, but AT&T is quickly rolling about the remainder of the network.

2. When You Can?t Be There in Person: Video-conferencing

The increase in speeds will allow the new iPhones to run full-fledged video conferences, something that the current model is not natively capable of. There are also rumors that the new iPhone may have a front-facing camera to support video-conferencing.

3. Getting Where You Need to Go: GPS

The new iPhone will have turn-by-turn GPS directions. The current model triangulates you position by using cell phone towers, but it can?t really pinpoint your position, it only gives you a rough idea of where you are. This new feature will allow you to get rid of yet another gadget: your GPS device, adding to list of things your iPhone replaces: your GPS device, you phone, and of course, your mp3 player.

Unfortunately, the iPhone is still only available for AT&T. (Sprint users should check out the upcoming Sprint Instinct, which offers many similar features.) The new iPhone is an exciting addition to the Apple family and Apple expects over ten million units to be sold.