Apple gives its blessing to third-party iPhone apps

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 18 October 2007 01:43

Your IT - Mobility

Apple plans to release a software development kit for the iPhone and iPod touch in February 2008.

Much effort has been devoted by various groups to develop techniques that allow non-Apple software to be loaded onto the devices. The company's restrictions on third-party software has even been the subject of legal action by customers.

Apple's stance was that people should develop web-based applications accessible via the iPhone's Safari browser, but not all developers or users were satisfied with that.

CEO Steve Jobs pointed to security concerns as the reason for the delay between the arrival of the iPhone and the SDK: "since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target."

Apple's goal is to deliver a SDK that will provide an advanced and open development platform while offering users protection against various kinds of malware. Describing these goals as "diametrically opposed," Jobs pointed to the way Nokia requires software for some of its new phones to be digitally signed could be part of the solution by providing a mechanism for tracing programs to their developers.

"We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhone’s amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs," wrote Jobs in an open letter on the company's web site [link may be transient].

No indication was given of the likely cost (if any) of the SDK, or if there will be any limitations on those eligible to receive it. Nor was there any word on whether developers would be free to market and distribute their programs in any way they choose.

One of the most requested applications for the iPhone is a VoIP softphone, either standards based or a version of Skype. These would not be popular with the carriers, as it would increase the amount of data sent and received by iPhone users while simultaneously reducing the number of voice minutes.

Another is an instant messaging client that operates across multiple networks.