By Nick Wingfield, The Wall Street Journal
March 1, 2008
Apple Inc.'s iPhone boasts the power of a computer under its metallic-and-glass shell, including a stripped-down version of the software that runs Apple's Macintosh computers. Soon independent software makers will be able to harness that power themselves, in a development that could broaden the iPhone's appeal.
Apple has invited the media to an event Thursday at the company's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, where it plans to present an "iPhone software roadmap." One of the event's highlights will be a software-development kit that will let independent programmers build iPhone applications, according to Apple's invitation.
Since the iPhone made its debut in June, software developers have bridled over how Apple hasn't allowed them to create programs that could tap into the device's full potential. To prevent viruses that could wreak havoc on the gadget, Apple has only allowed developers to make software that runs through the iPhone's Safari Web browser, but not more full-featured "native" applications that users could download and store on their phones.
In plain English, that means iPhone users have been stuck with hobbled software from independent developers. Although the applications that run through its Web browser are more secure, they can't be accessed when users are away from a wireless network.
Jonathan Zweig, chief executive of mobile-games developer Jirbo Inc. in Los Angeles, has made a handful of iPhone games that work over the Web, but he says the coming software-development kit, or SDK, will allow him to make better games that run faster and can use advanced capabilities in the phone such as three-dimensional graphics. "The SDK means everything," Mr. Zweig says. "The possibilities are endless. For each application, we can make it 10 times more interactive with the SDK."
If developers come up with a compelling array of iPhone software, it could help Apple sell more of the devices, particularly to business users who need access to corporate software applications.
Analyst Shaw Wu of American Technology Research said in a research note this past week that it is likely Apple will address the iPhone's mediocre support for corporate email systems. Mr. Wu predicted that Apple in the coming week will announce better support for Microsoft Corp.'s Exchange server and International Business Machines Corp.'s Lotus Notes.
Apple says it already has sold more than four million iPhones, but it has a ways to go before it reaches its goal of selling 10 million by the end of this year. This past week, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said the company is still confident it will meet that target. Better software from independent developers could help it get there.
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