Apple has released a beta of the iPhone SDK. This is a software developer kit (SDK) so developers (or yourself) can develop applications, tools, utilities, etc for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Also, Apple has released a sneak peak the next generation of the iPhone OS (iPhone OS 2.0). The biggest feature included in it is Microsoft Exchange support. This will allow people from corporations, and/or people who have businesses to get their iPhone working with exchange mail servers.
iPhone OS 2.0 will be featuring the following:
-Push eMail
-Push Calendar
-Push Contacts
-Securities/Policies
-Certificates
-Identities
-Remote Wipe (Erase your iPhone's data remotely if lost/stolen)
-Cisco IPsec VPN
-Parental Controls
Here are Apple's policies for the iPhone SDK:
-SDK is a FREE download off the Apple Developer Site
-SDK is Mac only (Requires a Mac running Leopard Intel or PPC)
-SDK created apps will require iPhone OS 2.0 (Approx release date July 11th).
-iPhone OS 2.0 will NOT be a free upgrade for iPod Touch customers ($9.99)
-ALL iPhone apps will be distributed through the iTunes Store
-You can use either EDGE or WiFi to download your apps
-Apple must approve all apps before they're released on the store
-Apple will NOT allow any pornographic, malicious, or bandwidth intensive apps
-$99/yr to post your apps on the iTunes (Apple covers all hosting, credit card, etc fees)
-Developers can set their own prices (or make them free if they wish)
-Developers get 70% of the price and Apple gets 30% (Maintenance fees)
-Apps Store will be international
-Apps are downloaded either store through iTunes or directly off your iPhone
-Apple WILL allow VoIP as long as its through WiFi
-Apple WILL allow an Instant Messaging app (AOL did a demo of one)
-No word on how long it takes to get your iPhone app approved by Apple
-Apple is going to setup a call back server so apps can call back to the server for apps that need a background process running w/o having the app actually running in the background (saves battery life and processing power on the iPhone)
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