Apple's New iPhone 3G Debuts July 11th

The highly-anticipated iPhone 3G will hit store shelves on July 11. The phone will now cost half as much as the original iPhone (the eight gigabyte version now costs $199, down from $399), and its new 3G technology will allow users to surf the web at much higher speeds.

Taking a closer look at costs, as always there are a few hidden agenda items : (1) the iPhone’s mandatory two-year contract with AT&T, the unlimited data plan goes for $30 a month (up from the $20 charged for the original iPhone); (2) the iPhone also comes with a required voice plan, at $40 a month.

So, at a bare minimum, in addition to the initial investment of $199, the iPhone will run you nearly $70 a month or $840 per year for one phone line.

Of course, the iPhone's "value" is different things to different people. It's definitely more than a phone, and its features and functionality such as the texting interface may allow someone to rationalize these costs on top of the iPhone's apparent cost.

Predictions are out there are more incredibly amazing things are coming on iPhone, including that it will be the hottest mobile gaming platform out there in four months.