As you must know by now, the new 3G iPhone, unlike its first-generation predecessor, comes bundled with a built-in GPS. Here’s a bit more detail on that particular development.

For one, the problem most smartphones have with built-in GPS’s is that it consumes way too much battery life. Apple has dealt with this issue handily in a number of ways. First, it has improved (read: enlarged) the iPhone’s battery, doubling the battery life so that even after the GPS eats up all the charge it can, there’s still plenty left over for the rest of the device’s functions. Secondly, the iPhone GPS will only power up when it is unable to hone in on your location another way, less power-hungry way (so to speak), namely via 3G or WiFi. And thirdly, the GPS chip Apple has developed is simply less of a power drain than other GPS chips.

The Apple iPhone GPS also features improved tracking sensitivity and faster signal searches. Additionally, the Apple iPhone GPS chip is also designed to integrate seamlessly with many of the most popular standalone navigation systems. For example, rumor has it that Tom Tom is working on an iPhone version of its in-car navigation system.

As is typical for Apple, its new iPhone GPS chip is set to become the industry leading technology of its kind and no doubt the model that others, including its forerunners, will be scrambling to keep up with.