By AppleInsider Staff

Published: 10:00 AM EST

Apple Inc. said Monday that its heavily-hyped iPhone device will feature a optical-quality glass surface and deliver significantly longer battery life than was originally estimated.

iPhone will feature up to 8 hours of talk time, 6 hours of Internet use, 7 hours of video playback or 24 hours of audio playback, the company said. In addition, the multi-functional device will feature up to 250 hours -- more than 10 days -- of standby time.

Apple also announced that the entire top surface of iPhone, including its vast 3.5-inch display, has been upgraded from plastic to optical-quality glass to achieve a superior level of scratch resistance and optical clarity.

"With 8 hours of talk time, and 24 hours of audio playback, iPhone’s battery life is longer than any other 'Smartphone' and even longer than most MP3 players," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. "We’ve also upgraded iPhone’s entire top surface from plastic to optical-quality glass for superior scratch resistance and clarity. There has never been a phone like iPhone, and we can't wait to get this truly magical product into the hands of customers starting just 11 days from today."

iPhone, which introduces an entirely new user interface based on a cutting-edge multi-touch display, combines three products into one small and lightweight handheld device -- a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and an Internet navigator.

"iPhone ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones," Apple said in a statement.

The device will be available in the US on June 29, 2007 in a 4GB model for $499 (US) and an 8GB model for $599 (US), and will work with either a PC or Mac. iPhone will be sold in the US through Apple’s retail and online stores, and through AT&T’s select retail stores.