Apple opens the iPhone

Apple has officially opened the iPhone's "cult phone" software to the outside development community, hoping the iPhone's "hotness" will become more intense and even challenge the throne. Emperor of BlackBerry in the US smartphone market.

Favor?

In a special conference that took place in San Francisco, the United States, Apple unveiled a software development kit (SDK) exclusively for the iPhone, which allows programmers to comfortably mold the service application. " This cricket ".

Apple claims its engineers also use this SDK to write down iPhone applications and software.

" This is a privilege that Apple has never given to the outside world before ," commented research firm Gartner.

Previously, every " Apple " product was like a forbidden garden, charming but full of mystery to the infidels. Simply because Apple never shares its technology with anyone.

" We hope the iPhone will become more valuable and worth buying in the eyes of users. This is not an open source project. In contrast, the iPhone opening is a profitable project ," the Chief Executive Officer said. Jobs Steve Jobs frankly shared.

Even Apple, along with a number of investment companies set up a "iFund" fund to fund applications written on the iPhone platform. Some excellent special applications will be paid by the company and released exclusively on Apple's website.

Historic events"?

The iPhone SDK also allows writing applications compatible with iPod Touch.Source: AFP

" Today, we witness a historic event: Release of the iPhone SDK ," Jobs said.

IFund's budget amounted to $ 100 million, some of which, according to Jobs, can "start up to nearly ten Amazon.com or even four Google firms", because Amazon previously founded only $ 8 million in hand. Google is better off when attracting venture capital of $ 24 million.

Apps for iPhone can also be run on iPod Touch, because according to Jobs, this latest music player is basically a functional-phone-to-phone iPhone.

" Developers will be free to price their applications and receive 70% of revenue ." The rest will be submitted to the App Store.

Currently, the iPhone is accounting for about 21% of the smartphone market in the US, losing only to RIM's BlackBerry Champion with 41% market share. To take down BlackBerry, Apple doesn't have to shake hands with Microsoft.

According to the latest announcement, the iPhone will be compatible with Microsoft's Office Exchange software, allowing business users to receive email, contacts and timetables from incoming computers.

" If the email sent by BlackBerry has to be transferred via RIM's server in Canada, the iPhone's messages will be transferred directly from the phone to the phone, " Jobs pointed at the opponent.

A new feature of the iPhone is also essential for business users: Wireless connection security, allowing owners to wipe data remotely in case of a lost or stolen iPhone.

So far, " Apple has sold more than 4 million iPhones, " Jobs said. " The business market will be a new, huge opportunity for us ."

More than expected

Source: AP The reaction of the tech community and experts on the iPhone SDK is generally positive. Even Bear River Associates said, " More than our expectations. This is something everyone wants ."

Analyst Simon Yates of Forrester Research said that the iPhone SDK will satisfy all three sides: developers, businesses and ordinary consumers.

" Shaking hands with Microsoft will help Apple reach millions of Exchange and Outlook users. This is a battle aimed at BlackBerry, " Yates added.

Having the iPhone Application Programming Interface in hand, it has never been so easy to write applications for iPhone. And yet, Apple is also very generous when integrating SQL Lite inside this SDK toolkit.

SQL Lite is an open source database being used extensively by the mobile development community. " Data storage work is even as delicious as candy removal, " commented Bear River.

Developers can choose between two options: Use iPhone Simulator tool or develop applications right on iPhone hardware. iPhone Simulator is a platform that runs on Mac computers, replicating the entire iPhone OS API.

Developers can run their applications in this virtual environment, so the design process saves time significantly.

With the second option, the programmer must pay Apple 99 USD to be able to write applications directly on the iPhone. This option is more successful, but also more expensive.