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Apple Courts iPhone Developers

Releases inexpensive software development kit

By Laila Weir, Newser User

Posted Mar 7, 2008 2:00 PM CST

(Newser) – Apple is opening up the iPhone to outside programmers. The company said yesterday it would release a $99 software development kit, and the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins has committed $100 million to invest in developers' work, reports the New York Times. iPhones so far have been limited—at least officially—to Apple’s included programs. But new applications will be tightly controlled by Apple.

Independent software developers’ programs will be available only through a new “Apps Store” on iPhones, and Apple will take a 30% cut of sales. This may prove unpopular with some programmers, but the company says this control will let it filter out inappropriate or insecure applications. Apple also said the iPhone will now work with Microsoft Exchange, opening the way to greater business adoption.

An Apple iPhone is seen as a customer tries another iPhone at Carphone Warehouse's flagship store in central London, Friday, Nov. 9, 2007. (AP Photo / Akira Suemori) (Associated Press)

Apple CEO Steve Jobs shows off the new iPhone at the MacWorld Conference & Expo in San Francisco, in this Jan. 9, 2007 file photo. (Associated Press)

A customer tries out an Apple iPhone at an Apple store in Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) (Associated Press)

An Apple iPhone is seen at a T-Mobile shop in Bremen, northern Germany, Friday Nov. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach) (Associated Press)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

iPhone • Apple • venture capital • programming • software developers • software development • Microsoft Exchange • iPhone apps

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

iPhone Kills Carrier Profits

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint lose out by subsidizing Apple's cell phone

iPad, iPhone Ban Overturned

Motorola's patent infringement ruling in Germany doesn't last long

Apple Earnings Soar on Huge iPhone Sales

Company sells 37M as earnings double

Beijing Apple Store Egged After Botched iPhone Launch

Angry crowd is told 4S sale canceled

iPhone's Siri Learning Chinese

4s to be launched in China, 21 other countries

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Newser By Users

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What is Newser?