APPLE'S NEW cell phone dispenses with all but one button (which takes you to the Home screen) in favor of a touch screen that allows you to choose among its myriad functions: playing music and video, shooting photos, sending e-mail, browsing the Web and, yes, making telephone calls.

If you are listening to music when the phone rings, touching the answer icon automatically pauses the music. Voice mails show up in an e-mail-like list, so it's easy to selectively retrieve messages. Web pages automatically rotate when turning the phone from a vertical to a horizontal position. A Google Maps module provides maps or aerial photos of any address you choose.

The iPhone, which is available solely from AT&T, sells for $499 for a model with 4 gigabytes of storage, and $599 for an 8-gigabyte model. For more information, visit www.apple.com.