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There is NO QUESTION in my mind now that Apple is serious in letting 3rd party applications on the iPhone.  I believe that they have listened and I am convinced that they believed that if they did not allow it, the iPhone would fail.  I was not convinced that Steve Jobs was totally serious in his past remarks when he said it would come … but not indicating when.  I believe that there was a lot of fallout from that (judging from the hordes of negative news items) and that they truly re-evaluated their stance.

It may not be the exact way some developers might want to create applications but it is going to happen … this is good.  I have maintained that the success of this Geek (and non-geek) Toy was dependent on several factors.  The most important was the ability to let users personalize their device to their individual tastes and that is done with 3rd party applications.  For me that was the biggest issue (although there are others) and if developers can start churning out the applications, there will be a lot of happy customers using their new toy (now if we can only get a removable battery).

Here is the press release that gave me the sense that they were FINALLY serious

Innovative New Way to Create Applications for iPhone

(see the full release after the page break)

WWDC 2007, SAN FRANCISCO?June 11, 2007?Apple today announced that its revolutionary iPhone will run applications created with Web 2.0 Internet standards when it begins shipping on June 29. Developers can create Web 2.0 applications which look and behave just like the applications built into iPhone, and which can seamlessly access iPhone?s services, including making a phone call, sending an email and displaying a location in Google Maps. Third-party applications created using Web 2.0 standards can extend iPhone?s capabilities without compromising its reliability or security.

?Developers and users alike are going to be very surprised and pleased at how great these applications look and work on iPhone,? said Steve Jobs, Apple?s CEO. ?Our innovative approach, using Web 2.0-based standards, lets developers create amazing new applications while keeping the iPhone secure and reliable.?

Web 2.0-based applications are being embraced by leading developers because they are far more interactive and responsive than traditional web applications, and can be easily distributed over the Internet and painlessly updated by simply changing the code on the developers? own servers. The modern web standards can also provide secure data access and transactions, like those used with Amazon or online banking.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and will enter the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.

iPhone to Support Third-Party Web 2.0 Applications

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