Now that Apple's (AAPL) Steve Jobs has confirmed the previously leaked details of the company's new iPhone 4, the question is, can a merely upgraded iPhone stave off a wave of Android smart phones?

Disappointingly, the new iPhone (due June 24) doesn't use faster 4G service, and even more disappointingly it will remain exclusively on the beleaguered AT&T (T) network (at least for now). Even Jobs faced service problems during his presentation on Monday but marshaled on, touting some of the new phone's improvements. Those include a larger battery (rated for 7 hours of talk), a spruced up 5-megapixel camera with flash, a front mounted camera for making video calls over Wi-Fi, and the ability to shoot and edit HD video clips. There's also a sharper screen and a supposedly better antenna.

Pricing remains about the same: $199 for a 16-gigabyte model with two-year AT&T contract; $299 for 32 GB. Older iPhone 3GS models will be sold for $99 with a two-year contract. But more worrisome is that AT&T has announced that it will abandon unlimited data pricing plans, which means iPhone users may be skittish about using those hundreds of thousands of apps in the future.

By contrast, HTC and Sprint managed to upstage Apple last week by introducing the first 4G phone in the U.S., the HTC EVO 4G ($200 with a 2-year contract). It represents the state-of-the-art in smart phones, at least in terms of features. It has a strikingly large 4.3-inch touch screen, can handle HD video, and includes two cameras, like the iPhone. But it out shines the iPhone by enabling video calls not just over Wi-Fi but also over Sprint's cellular network. For taking stills, the EVO includes a higher-resolution 8-megapixel shooter. And the phone can be used to create a mobile Wi-Fi hot spot, allowing up to 8 devices to access the Web through its connection.

The last feature costs $30 a month, on top of the typical $80 voice and data plan. Buyers should also note that 4G service is only available in a handful of cities (New York and San Francisco are not yet among them). However, Sprint is promising to continue to roll out its 4G service, which tends to be about 2 to 4 times faster than 3G service.

Another smart new Android-based phone is the Garminfone on T-Mobile ($200 with a 2-year contract). It combines the best of a standalone navigation device with the best of a smart phone. It's actually the second attempt by the company to marry a navigation device and smart phone. The first model behaved like a bickering old couple, but this version is a picture of domestic bliss.

All the Garmin (GRMN) maps reside on the phone, so its turn-by turn directions will never abandon you. It also comes standard with an excellent cradle that mounts on the dash or windscreen, and the phone's 3.5-inch screen is bright enough to be visible in direct sunlight. The navigation side includes information usually neglected on smart phones, such as your current speed and the estimated time of arrival (which seems to satisfy my daughter's "Are-we-there-yet?" inquiries). Traffic information is included as well. Better still, when you unhook the phone from its car cradle, it automatically marks the spot so that later, should you discover you've forgotten where you parked at the mall, it will lead you straight back to your wheels.

The EVO and Garmin phones are just two examples of Android phones flooding the market. I've looked at several other models due by the fall that are lighter and less expensive. It's also anticipated that Verizon will debut a 4G phone within the next few months, applying more pressure to Apple and AT&T. Ultimately, it's about offering new features and lots of options, and on that score the Android forces look to be out in front.