MANILA, Philippines -- Apple has identified the Philippines as among many countries where its new third-generation (3G) iPhone will be launched soon.

However, the Philippines is not part of the scheduled July 11 worldwide rollout, according to the Apple website.

Philippines-based mobile operator Globe Telecom announced last month that the company, along with Singtel, Bharti Airtel and Optus signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to the Philippines, Singapore, India and Australia this year. The company, however, did not provide any more details about its local rollout.

INQUIRER.net reported earlier about Apple iPhone's availability in the Philippines.

The new 3G Apple iPhone was launched during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference.

As the name implies, the 3G Apple iPhone runs on a faster mobile network and designed to be an Internet handheld device capable of browsing the web. It also comes with global positioning system (GPS) mapping capabilities. It will also support applications like Microsoft Exchange and the new App Store, Apple's virtual store for all iPhone applications that are free and sold commercially.

The 3G iPhone supports the EDGE network, which is short for Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution. Local mobile phone networks support EDGE-capable handsets, including Research in Motion's latest Blackberry handhelds.

The 3G Apple iPhone website indicates that the new handheld device will be available in all "Globe Telecom locations across the nation."

Globe Telecom officials are unavailable for comment at this writing.