Betting that its customers are growing tired of carrying a cell phone, iPod and laptop, Apple is offering the three-in-one sleek package.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced Jan. 9 that his company would be entering the cell phone market with its new iPhone. The iPhone is slated to be released in June with a price tag of $499 for the four-gigabyte model and $599 for the eight-gigabyte model.

It will be exclusively available to Cingular Wireless customers and will be available at both Apple and Cingular retail and online stores.

The iPhone is a combination cell phone, iPod and Internet device, topped off with a two-megapixel camera.

The iPhone also sports a user interface that uses a touch screen that can be operated with a finger rather than a stylus.

Many of the other bells and whistles that the iPhone comes with add to this laundry list of features.

"iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone," Jobs said at the announcement.

Christian Zilmer, sales consultant at the Cingular Wireless store, 147 S. Allen St., said the store will start
selling the iPhone around June 1. The announced price of the device might be reduced if the phone were bought with a contract, he said.

Zilmer said he thinks students would probably be willing to spend the money to get the iPhone regardless of the price.

"Most likely the price will be dropped, and with a lot of students, the parents buy the phones," he said, adding that the store won't be taking preorders.

Zilmer said he thought the phones would sell well.

"I think they'll be popular with anybody who likes technology or Apple. It'll do a lot. The potential is there," he said.

He said that he, personally, would like to have one.

Phil DeBrasky, sales associate at The Communication Station, 118 S. Pugh St., said the store would not be selling the phone because it is a Verizon carrier.

He did not think that the iPhone would hurt his store's sales.

"It's going to be the new phenomenon, but overall I don't think its going to be a huge thing," he said.

He said the price of the iPhone would not likely affect student sales.

"It depends on the parents," he said. "Being that phones are coming out with lots of new features, they're looking for that."

Michael Rolli (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said when he first heard about the iPhone it seemed kind of ridiculous, and he was not sure whether students would be willing to buy it.

"It may be to much to handle," he said.

Pat Crump (freshman-earth and mineral sciences) said he would not be willing to spend the money on the new iPhone and would rather spend his money on a Playstation 3.

He did say, however, that he liked the fact that the iPhone had so many features packed into one device because it saved space.

"I don't like carrying things in my pockets," he said.