iPhone: SDK Today, Enterprise Features in June

ScreenshotApple held one of their flashy dog-and-pony shows (er, press conferences) this morning to bring us all up to date on the latest developments for the iPhone. As expected, the announcements were split between discussing enterprise support and showing off the coming iPhone SDK. The beta releases of these things are going out to developers today, but if you’re an iPhone user, don’t get too excited: customers will see the new features as part of a software update in June (which, based on Apple’s track record, probably means June 30).

On the enterprise side, the news was as much about Microsoft as about Apple. Though they had a laundry list of features their enterprise customers were demanding (push email, Cisco VPN compatibility, enforced security policies, remote data wipe, and more), it’s been clear to outside observers that the Blackberry has had a huge advantage over the iPhone in corporate settings simply due to Microsoft Exchange support. Well, no more. In addition to implementing all the other enterprise wishlist features, the next version of the iPhone software will include ActiveSync technology so it can talk directly to an Exchange server.


Of course, Apple wasn’t shy about pointing out the superiority of this direct communication to the “old-fashioned” method of using a proxy server to grab mail from Exchange and shove it out to the device. If there was anyone who doubted that Apple is gunning directly for RIM’s business, this part of the presentation (with its dig at reduced reliability of systems with more moving parts) should convince them.

On the software development front, Apple is delivering a version of XCode that’s iPhone-aware (the same tools they use to build iPhone software in house). That includes getting the right APIs into XCode, offering remote debugging and a simulator, and putting together specialized instruments for debugging and performance-tuning iPhone applications. While this may look revolutionary to some Apple-centric developers, to be fair Windows Mobile developers have had all of that for their platform for years. What they don’t have, of course, is a way to target the iPhone.

As you’d expect, this development environment is productive, even for folks who don’t already know XCode development. Demo’d code – all written in two weeks or less – included image processing, a couple of games (including a version of EA’s unreleased Spore), a client for Salesforce, AIM for the iPhone (can native Twitter be far behind?), and a version of Epocrates (a medical software package that’s currently available for Windows Mobile, Palm, and Blackberry).

The software tools are coupled with the App Store, a new software distribution platform that will put a catalog of installable applications directly in front of every iPhone user, complete with things like featured applications and popularity rankings. This will be the “exclusive” way to distribute applications, and as a developer you’ll pay Apple 30% of your sales price off the top to be included. On the other hand, for that 30% they run the store and handle credit card processing. The 30% cut holds even if your price is “free” – that is, there’s no charge to distribute free applications via the App Store. Apple will also exercise some editorial control: no porn, nothing malicious, and “bandwidth hogs” – a codeword for “no VOIP over the ell networks.”

Developers can download the SDK for free, but to get into the distribution program, or to run applications on a real device instead of a simulator, you need to pay $99. But there’s a potential way to recoup that money: venture firm KPCB is putting together a $100 million “iFund” for firms building iPhone software.

So, what’s in this for web workers? If you get your email via Exchange, the iPhone will become a much more attractive device in about four months. For everyone else, it’s up to the horde of developers to take that SDK and build compelling applications. (And there’s definitely a horde: KPCB’s web site crashed moments after the iFund was revealed). Even developers who don’t want to chase the VC money will find the cost of entry to the iPhone platform extraordinarily low, compared to programming for other devices in the same class.The most important long-term effect of today’s announcements is likely to be the establishment of the iPhone as a credible platform for open development.

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