Cool idea for iPhone... also Exchange Server access coming

[Neilk]

Well Apple is giving developers access to the iPhone. I was reading about some the features available here and saw that developers will be able to access the Accelerometer in the iPhone. Looks like the perfect opportunity to build an alternative to the Gtech. I can't wait until the 3G version comes out.

[kstar]

Cribbed from the SDK presentation:

"So let's get on with what we have to talk about today. I've asked two of my colleagues do the heavy lifting..." Schiller, and Forstall. "First thing we're going to talk about is iPhone in enterprise." Tossing to Phil Schiller. Applause.



10:04AM - "I'm really excited to be the one to talk to you abut iPhone in the enterprise. We've had some great customers at the forefront wanting to adopt the iPhone into their enterprises." Talking about using Genentech using a fleet of iPhones. "We have a lot of great university customers." Stanford, for example; hundreds of iPhones for faculty and staff.

"There are a lot of things enterprise customers have told us that have hold us back from being HUGE in the enterprise. What do they want to take the iPhone into the enterprise. What do they want? Push email -- huge request. They want great calendar integration. They want it pushed to them wherever they are.

10:05AM - They want push contacts, global address list, Cisco IPsec VPN, they want authentication and certs, enterprise class WiFi (WPA2 / 802.1x), security policies, enterprise configuration tools, and they want remote wipe.

10:06AM - "That's a long list of important features enterprise customers want. Well, I'm excited to be the one to tell you today, we're doing ALL these things in the next release of the iPhone software." Big applause, couple of cheers.

edit: This one is important, too.

10:07AM - "Our customers have asked us to build in MS Exchange right into the iPhone -- we have licensed ActiveSync for the iPhone"

[Halm]

That is great news. an iPhone will be my first Apple product since a IIe.

[kstar]

Here's a good summary of the SDK presentation:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/live-from-apples-iphone-press-conference/

SDK beta out today and iTunes App Store opens in June along with firmware 2.0. Rumor is that a 3G iPhone may surface at this time as well.

Jobs stated that 71% of web mobile traffic is via iPhone, but I didn't get a source.

Should be fun stuff in a few months.

Best,

Kurt

[kstar]

From Wired:

CUPERTINO, California -- The Jobsfather and Co. made a slurry of iPhone related announcements today. Here are 5 big ones:

1. SDK: Developers are now allowed to create apps for the iPhone and sell them in Apple's iTunes store. You just have to plop down $99 to publish your app.

2. Enhanced User Experience: iPhone owners will be able to browse and buy these apps via their iPhones, wirelessly.

3. VOiP: Sure you can develop the most kick ass VOiP program in history, but Apple will only allow calls to be made over Wi-Fi.
(Can you imagine when someone equips an iPod Touch with Skype? Now that's one hot little device. Thanks, Mark!)

4. Corporate Features: Suits rejoice. Your iPhone is getting push email, push calendar, push contacts, VPN (by Cisco), WPA2/ 802.1x, device configuration, and Remote Wipe. And (queue brass trumpets) Exchange.

5. iFund: It's a $100,000,000 bankroll for developers. If you've got a free app, Apple won't charge you anything for hosting or processing. If you charge for your app, Apple takes 30% of your set price.