Apple iPhone

Apple iPhone Launches June 29

After weeks of anticipation, speculation and guesses good and bad, Apple (AAPL) tonight confirmed the launch date of the iPhone: Friday, June 29.

The news came in a series of three TV ads aired Sunday night and posted shortly after on Apple's website here. The first ones aired at 7 p.m. ET, according to several sources, one before the broadcast of 60 Minutes on CBS, and another just before the 7 p.m. broadcast of 7th Heaven.

Each demonstrates a selection of the iPhone's functions and ends with the words "Only on the new AT&T," the Apple logo, and the tagline: "Coming June 29."

The ads are straightforward and ungimmicky, except perhaps for "Calimari" (see below) ,which jumps from watching the giant squid scene in Pirates of the Caribbean to searching for the nearest seafood restaurant in San Francisco to calling for a reservation. It will be interesting to see if the iPhone -- and the Net -- work as quickly and seamlessly in the real world.

The only news in the ads, besides the launch date, comes in the small print on the AT&T screen. It reads:

"Use requires minimum new two year activation plan."

That should put to rest rumors floated two weeks ago that the iPhone might be offered contract-free, with prepaid and pay-as-you-go options.

Pasted below is the YouTube version of the Calimari ad: