Apple has released version 2.1 of its iPhone software, promising a wealth of bug fixes for a pioneering device that has suffered a number of problems.

Chief executive Steve Jobs had promised the iPhone update in a speech during a last week's launch event for next-generation iPod music players, saying, "This is a big update, and it fixes lots of bugs".

The company's software update page shows just how big:

• Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls
• Significantly better battery life for most users
• Dramatically reduced time to back up to iTunes
• Improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
• Faster installation of third-party applications
• Fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes for users with lots of third-party applications
• Improved performance in text messaging
• Faster loading and searching of contacts
• Improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
• Repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
• Option to wipe data after 10 failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation

The page also instructs iPhone users to use version 8.0 of iTunes to perform the update. So beware, Windows Vista users.

The iPhone 3G has generally won acclaim for its design and the range of third-party applications that now can run on the device, though some miss features such as copy-and-paste and voice-command dialling. In the US in particular, however, network connectivity troubles and other issues have tarnished the iPhone 3G's debut.