How developers — and Apple — will make money on iPhone software
Jordan Golson · 10/17/07 11:34AMAfter months of enduring whines from programmers, Apple has announced a software development kit for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Scheduled for release in February, the kit — a set of code libraries and specifications — will let them write programs that run on the iPhone instead of limiting them to Web-based applications. Apple is looking to provide an "advanced and open platform" while at the same time protecting users from malware and viruses and the like. Our guess at what's really going on here? Apple is building an iTunes-based platform to securely deliver apps to users. From movies to music to software, Apple is plotting a way to keep itself in the middle of any money-making transaction on its hardware.