Downloads initiated by several Computerworld staffers, for example, progressed normally immediately after Apple posted the update, although speeds seemed on the slow side. One Computerworld senior editor on the West Coast successfully updated his iPhone 3G to the 3.0 software. "[It went very smoothly," he said. "Only problem: One extra page of apps for the displaced one on the home screen, what with the voice memos app." Another editor on the East Coast needed almost an hour to snag the update, with the download finishing just before 2 p.m. ET.

Earlier today, several carriers that partner with Apple, including Sweden's Telia, told their customers to expect the iPhone 3.0 update at 1 p.m. Eastern in the U.S.

Last year, Apple released the then-new iPhone 2.0 simultaneously with the launch of the new iPhone 3G, a combination that brought Apple's servers to their knees as users clamored for the update and new phones were activated in AT&T and Apple retail stores. This time the company spaced the update and new model launch apart by two days.

Apple will start selling the new iPhone 3G S in the U.S, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. on Friday.

iPhone 3.0, which Apple previewed in March, boasts more than 100 new features, including copy and paste; a version of Spotlight, Apple's search tool for digging out e-mails, contacts, appointments, and iTunes tracks; and push notification, a workaround to the iPhone's lack of background processing.

The software update also includes fixes for 46 security vulnerabilities, with half of them affecting Safari, the Web browser on the device, or Webkit, the rendering engine that powers Safari.

The update is free for iPhone users, but because of the way Apple accounts for its revenues, there's a $9.95 charge for iPod Touch users.

Users can download iPhone 3.0 by connecting their iPhone or iPod Touch to their PC or Mac, running iTunes, clicking on the device in the listing on the left and then clicking the "Check for Update" button.

Read more about macintoshes in Computerworld's Macintoshes Knowledge Center.

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