As we mentioned earlier last week, firmware 2.2 for both iPhone 2G (first generation) and 3G is now out and available for download.

For those who don’t plan on jailbreaking or unlocking their iPhones, going straight ahead for the update will give you the following new benefits to your iPhone:

• Enhancements to Maps
  • Google Street View*
  • Public transit and walking directions
  • Display address of dropped pins
  • Share location via email
• Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls
• Enhancements to Mail
  • Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
  • Improved formatting of wide HTML email
• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages
• Pressing Home button from any Home screen displays the first Home screen
• Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

However, if you are planning on jailbreaking or unlocking your iPhone or have already done so for ANY of the previous firmware releases, we suggest you hold back for just a bit, because the current supporting softwares for jailbreaking and unlocking the iPhone 2.1 do not yet support the latest firmware 2.2.

We expect further updates regarding the above issue to be available very soon!

• Roundup of jailbreaking, unlocking the iPhone 2.0.1 2G and 3G so far… UPDATED
• Roundup of jailbreak and unlock options for iPhone 2.2.1 2G and 3G
• New InstallerApp backs up and syncs your iPhone jailbreak apps
• iPhone firmware 2.2.1 iTunes update tip and how to fix the bricked iPhone problem
• iPhone Dev Team: iPhone 3G unlocking progress and firmware update 2.2