All those eagerly awaiting the India launch of Apple's iPhone 3G can now make sure they get their hands on the device soon after its launch -- by booking their piece online.

Both Vodafone and Airtel have started pre-registration for the iPhone 3G on their respective Web sites. However, both companies have said nothing about when the iPhone will be launched. All they've managed to reveal is that it would be coming later this year. Yet, speculation is rife that India can expect the iPhone 3G sometime in September this year.It would be worth mentioning here that while both Vodafone and Airtel are allowing consumers to pre-register for iPhone 3G, the Indian government is yet to finalize matters regarding 3G telephony in the country. Possibly, this is one of the reasons why Vodafone and Airtel are keeping mum on the date of launch.

What's certain is that the iPhone is coming to India. So while most of you wait with bated breath for the famed gizmo, let us take you through some of its main highlights. iPhone 3G marries all of the features of the iPhone plus 3G networking to be touted as "twice as fast as the first-generation iPhone". iPhone 3G also features built-in GPS for expanded location-based mobile services, iPhone 2.0 software with support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, and compatibility with third-party applications built with the iPhone SDK (software development kit).