Virgin Mobile Australia yesterday confirmed that it, like its parent Optus, will launch Apple's iPhone 4 handset in Australia.

The news came hours after Optus itself confirmed the local iPhone 4 launch — over two weeks after Australian launches were publicised by rival carriers VHA and Telstra.

The Virgin spokesperson could not confirm any further details. The iPhone 4 has already launched in some countries (such as Japan), but will not go on sale in Australia until July. None of the nation's carriers have released Australian pricing or plans yet for the handset.

The phone features a raft of changes to the iPhone compared with previous models, starting with the re-designed exterior, which features a glass front and back and a rejuvenated flat design.

The iPhone 4 can film HD video in 720p resolution, and features a new, high-resolution display with a higher pixel count for greater viewing fidelity. Apple has also built in a new feature dubbed "FaceTime", which allows users to make video calls via Wi-Fi using the iPhone 4's new camera on its front.