iPhone 2.0 will bring contacts search, meeting invites

According to information and photos obtained by Engadget, new iPhone features are found in the Enterprise version of the new firmware.

The new functionality came as part of an update to the 2.0 beta firmware, which was pushed to registered beta testers on Tuesday.

In addition, some features were also removed: Enterprise users will not have access to either the iTunes music store or AppStore. This is unusual, as Apple rarely cedes much control over its products.

Rumors that some kind of search within contacts feature was added first surfaced shortly after the Cupertino company demoed iPhone firmware 2.0 in early March. When the contacts app was demoed, many noticed a search icon that Apple did not discuss.

Now with pictures and information from leaks surfacing, that feature can be confirmed. Through more searching it has been found that the Calendar application will support meeting invites as well. It is not immediately clear if this functionality requires Microsoft Exchange, as details on how it works are still scant. But in any case, the bi-level functionality of the new software is somewhat surprising.

Apple in the past has criticized Microsoft and others for its penchant for producing several levels of functionality in their products. The company itself had always argued for a simpler, one-size-fits-all approach.

Now, with the disclosure by leakers of an "Enterprise" version of the iPhone firmware, that appears to no longer be the case.